Mossbauer and magnetic studies on nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 particles prepared by ethylene glycol route

NiFe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by co-precipitation method at 145 degrees C in N-2 atmosphere using ethylene glycol as solvent and capping agent. This gives the promising synthesis route for nanoparticles at low temperature. The as-synthesized NiFe2O4 is subsequently heated at 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C, 700 degrees C and 800 degrees C. Crystallite size increases with the heat treatment temperature. The heat treatment temperature has direct effect on the electron paramagnetic resonance and intrinsic magnetic properties. The room temperature Mossbauer spectrum of the 800 degrees C heated sample shows the two sextets pattern indicating that the sample is ferrimagnetic and Fe3+ ions occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sites of spinel structure.