Estimation of Lattice Stress and Strain in Zinc and Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles by Williamson–Hall and Size-Strain Plot Methods

Abstract

The Williamson–Hall (W–H) analysis and size-strain plot method (SSP) were used to study the lattice stress, strain and crystalline size of zinc (ZnFe2O4) and manganese (MnFe2O4) ferrite nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD). The PXRD results revealed that the sample product was crystalline with mixed type spinel with cubic structure. The crystalline development in the ZnFe2O4 and MnFe2O4 was investigated by X-ray peak broadening. The physical parameters such as strain, stress and energy density values were calculated more precisely for all the reflection peaks of PXRD using the W–H plots and SSP method. The variation in particle size, lattice strain, stress and energy density calculated from W–H analysis and SSP method reveals a nonuniform strain in the particles. This nonuniform strain was increased when the particle sizes were increased.