Synthesis of Co1–xZnxFe2O4 and Evaluation of Structural, Magnetic, Antimicrobial Properties of ZnFe2O4, Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 by Citrate Gel Method, Calcined at 600°C

Abstract

Co1–xZnxFe2O4 was prepared by citrate precursor method using raw materials: citric acid, cobalt, zinc and iron nitrates and by following calcination at 600°C. This assessment presents the effect of substitution of the Zn2+ ion on the structural properties of cobalt nanoferrite. The structural characteristics of the calcined samples were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). X-ray diffraction studies of the nanoparticles heat-treated at 600°C confirms that the crystallite size is in the range of 22 to 29 mm and also the X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the formation of single phase ferrite particles in nano size. The morphology of the calcined sample was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mean particle size of Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 was determined to be 19 nm calculated from TEM which is supporting the X-ray diffraction studies. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) show two strong absorption bands in the series of ferrites between the range of 4500–500 cm−1 responsible for the characteristic of spinel ferrites. The high-frequency band and low-frequency band are assigned to the tetrahedral and octahedral complexes, respectively. The weight %, atomic %, and elemental analysis of calcined samples were confirmed by elemental spectral signals of energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). At the room temperature, magnetic measurements of pure ZnFe2O4 and Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 were calculated based on hysteresis curves (Hc), it is observed that the substitution of nonmagnetic Zn2+ ion increases the magnetic behavior in mixed cobalt-zinc ferrites. The antimicrobial activity of ZnFe2O4, Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 synthesized nanoferrites has been successfully tested against harmful microbes.