Synthesis of super paramagnetic particles of Mn1−xMgxFe2O4 ferrites for hyperthermia applications

Abstract

A series of Mn1−xMgxFe2O4 (x=0.0–1.0) spinel ferrites were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. The materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. X-ray diffraction patterns for all the samples revealed single phase formation with particle size below 100nm. The lattice constant was observed to decrease as the Mg-substitution increases thus altering the unit cell volume. Transmission electron micrographs exhibit that the particles are spherically shaped and agglomerated with particle size ranging 52–100nm quite consistent with particle size obtained from XRD data. The M–H loops for all the samples are narrow with low values of coercivity and retentivity, indicate the super paramagnetic nature of these samples. Based on these characterizations of the samples it is suggested that the Mn1−xMgxFe2O4 ferrites may be potential candidates for hyperthermia applications.