Multifunctional ferrite nanoparticles prepared from non-standard precursors: Structural, morphological, and magnetic study

Abstract

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by the molten salt process from non-standard precursors. Detailed investigations on the structural and magnetic properties of the prepared ferrite nanoparticles are presented. The XRD measurements illustrate and explain the effect of the annealing time, annealing temperature, and weight ratio of the salt on the formation and purity of the spinel phase (Fd3m) of the investigated zinc ferrite nanoparticles. FTIR spectra show the two characteristic absorption bands of normal spinel ZnFe2O4. TEM images reveal nanoparticles with a uniform shape, and the obtained average particle size is about 60 nm. EDS analysis confirms the purity of the zinc ferrite and the MPMS magnetic measurements illustrate paramagnetic and ferrimagnetic behaviors of zinc ferrite at low and room temperature, respectively. In the present work, the zinc ferrite prepared from non-standard reagents is a low-cost multifunctional nanomaterial and very competitive in many applications as sensing and data storage technology.