Effect of pH on the magnetic properties and microstructure of Mg0.1Co0.9Fe2O4 prepared by sol–gel self-propagating method

Abstract

The main purpose of this experiment is mainly to explore the magnetic properties and nano-structure of magnesium-cobalt ferrite. The magnesium-cobalt ferrite was prepare by sol–gel self-propagation method. During the preparation of the sample, we considered the effect of pH in solution of the magnetic properties and nano-structure of the magnesium-cobalt ferrite by changing the pH value of the precursor solution. Eight distinct characteristic peaks can be observed in the XRD map, which indicates that the prepared sample has a spinel structure. There are characteristic peaks (Me–O) in the Fourier infrared spectrum, and it changes with the preparation conditions. This indicates that the microstructure of the sample changes due to the change of preparation conditions. The EPMA test showed that the prepared sample had chemical elements such as magnesium, cobalt, iron, and oxygen, which confirmed that the sample was a relatively pure mixture. This result was in agreement with the fact that there was no obvious impurity peak in the XRD spectrum. Quantitative analysis of the chemical elements in the sample shows that the proportion of each component is similar to the target product. The SEM characterization indicates that the sample has a circular or elliptical surface structure and that the sample particles are evenly distributed. The VSM characterization results show that the pH of the solution has a major impact on the magnetic properties of magnesium-cobalt ferrite. Therefore, the pH value of the precursor should be strictly controlled in the preparation of ferrite, so as to prepare ferrite materials with better magnetic properties.