Enhanced magnetization of nanoparticles of Mg x Fe(3−x)O4 (0.5≤x≤1.5) synthesized by combustion reaction

For the first time nanocrystalline magnetic particles of Mg x Fe(3−x)O4 with x ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 have been synthesized by a combustion reaction method using iron nitrate Fe(NO3)3.9H2O, magnesium nitrate Mg(NO3)2.6H2O, and urea CO(NH2)2 as fuel without intermediate decomposition and/or calcining steps. X-ray diffraction patterns of all systems showed broad peaks consistent with cubic inverse spinel structure of MgFe2O4. The absence of extra reflections in the diffraction patterns of as-prepared materials ensures the phase purity. The mean crystallite sizes determined from the prominent (311) peak of the diffraction using Scherrer’s equation and transmission electron microscopy micrographs were c.a. 40 nm with spherical morphology. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the as-prepared material showed traces of organic and metallic salt by-products; however, these could be removed by washing with deionized water. Typical hysteresis curves were obtained for all specimens in magnetic field up to 14 T between 4 and 340 K. The saturation magnetization was 48.3 emu/g and 31.3 emu/g, 44.8 emu/g, and 28.4 emu/g for x=1.0 and 0.8 at 4 K and 340 K, respectively. The saturation magnetization, M s , of nanoparticles of the MgFe2O4 specimen is about 50% higher when compared to the bulk. The enhanced magnetization measured in our nanoparticles MgFe2O4 specimens may be attributed to the uncompensated magnetic moment of iron ions between the A- and B-sites, i.e., changes in the inversion factor. Our magnetization results of MgFe2O4 specimens are comparable to the existing data for the same compound but with different particle size and prepared by different synthesis methods.