Structure and magnetic properties of NixZn1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared through co-precipitation method

Nickel zinc ferrites, NixZn1-xFe2O4, nanoparticles have been synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation technique. Effects of synthesis conditions on the crystal structure, crystallite size, lattice parameter, microstructure and magnetic properties of the produced spinel ferrites were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results showed that a well crystalline single cubic structure of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 phase was formed through precipitation precursors at pH 10 and annealed for 2 h at 1000 degrees C, using sodium carbonate to adjust the pH. With the use of NaOH to adjust the pH, mixture of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and Fe2O3 phases were obtained. However, the addition of hydrogen peroxide, to the sodium hydroxide during precipitation, improved the formation of the single phase of Ni-Zn spinel ferrites. Moreover, the addition of two types of surfactants found to enhance the formation of the spinel crystal structure of the ferrites. The change of the Ni molar ratio content (x) from 0.2 to 0.9 had strongly affected the properties of the formed ferrites powders. The lattice parameters found to decline gradually with increasing nickel content and the crystallite size was in the range between 27 and 155 nm. Maximum saturation magnetization (85.4 emu/g) was achieved for the prepared Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 phase; annealed at 1200 degrees C for 2 h using Na2CO3 as alkali. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.