The superspin glass transition in zinc ferrite nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles of the ZnxFe3−xO4 (x = 0.3–0.4) spinel phase having 5 and 15 nm size were synthesized by thermal decomposition of the respective acetylacetonates in a high boiling-point solvent employing surfactants. The collective behaviour of the nanoparticles was probed by dc and ac magnetic measurements of tightly compressed pellets of the particles and silica coated products which were prepared by reverse microemulsion technique. The assembly of bare 5 nm particles remains in the superparamagnetic state with Curie-Weiss characteristics down to 35 K when a rather sharp freezing of superspins is detected. The larger particles show a similar but more diffusive transition at 250 K. The cores encapsulated into the diamagnetic silica do not exhibit glassy freezing.