Synthesis of nano-manganese ferrite by an oxalate method and characterization of its magnetic properties

Abstract

Abstract In this work, nano-sized manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) was synthesized through the decomposition of the mixed oxalates. The formation of the spinel manganese ferrite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The morphology of the ferrite products was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The particle size, which was determined using the Scherrer formula, ranged from 25 to 30 nm. Magnetic properties of the manganese ferrite were analyzed using a vibrating sample magnetometry technique; a narrow hysteresis loop indicated the MnFe2O4 obtained was a soft ferromagnet. Magnetic properties of the manganese ferrite produced were in agreement with those reported in literature for MnFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by conventional methods, including co-precipitation and mechanochemical processes. By plotting a series of literature data determined by different authors and techniques, a correlation between saturation magnetisation and particle size has been noted regardless of the synthesis methods. In general, the oxalate method seems to be able to produce nano-manganese ferrite in a shorter time (2–3 h) as compared to other conventional techniques reported in literature (up to 54 h).