Synthesis and magnetic properties of Zn 1− xMn xFe 2O 4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Zn 1− x Mn x Fe 2O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized through a hydrothermal process at 180°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies show an increase in particle size with the increasing of Mn concentration. The saturation magnetization ( M s) of Zn 1− x Mn x Fe 2O 4 measured by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) is found to increase rapidly at first and then slowly augments with the increasing of Mn concentration. Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis reveals that the spectra change from a paramagnetic double peak to hyperfine magnetic sextets and the Zn 0.2Mn 0.8Fe 2O 4 nanoparticles have 43% inversion occupancy on the tetrahedral sites by Fe 3+ cations, while this value increases to 47% in the MnFe 2O 4 sample. The results show that the occupancy of cations on A and B sites affects magnetic properties of spinel ferrite nanoparticles.