Synthesis of stoichiometric Ca2Fe2O5 nanoparticles by high-energy ball milling and thermal annealing

We report the synthesis of Ca2Fe2O5 nanoparticles by high-energy ball milling and thermal annealing from α-Fe2O3 and CaCO3. Magnetization measurements, Mossbauer and X-ray spectra reveal that annealing at high temperatures leads to better quality samples. Our results indicate nanoparticles produced by 10 h high-energy ball milling and thermal annealing for 2 h at 1100 °C achieve improved stoichiometry and the full weak ferromagnetic signal of Ca2Fe2O5. Samples annealed at lower temperatures show departure from stoichiometry, with a higher occupancy of Fe3+ in octahedral sites, and a reduced magnetization. Thermal relaxation for temperatures in the 700–1100 °C range is well represented by a Neel model, assuming a random orientation of the weak ferromagnetic moment of the Ca2Fe2O5 nanoparticles.