Synthesis of CoCrFeO4 nanoparticles using microemulsion methods and size-dependent studies of their magnetic properties

Normal and reverse micelle microemulsion methods were used to synthesis single-phase CoCrFeO4 nanoparticles with a controlled size range of 6-16 mn and a size distribution of 14%. The size-dependent magnetic properties were characterized and found to agree well with Stoner-Wohlfarth theory. The results from nanoparticles prepared by the normal micelle and reverse micelle microemulsion methods were consistent with each other. The CoCrFeO4 nanoparticles did not display the types of anomalous magnetic properties reported for their bulk-phase material. Using CoCrFeO4 nanoparticles as precursors for the formation of a bulk sample resulted in a material that displayed an unusual susceptibility behavior but not the anomalous temperature-dependent hysteresis trend usually observed in conventional CoCrFeO4 bulk materials.