Synthesis and Characterization Of Ni0.8Zn0.2 Fe2 O4 Nanoparticles By Self Combustion Technique

Nickel zinc ferrite (Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4) is a soft ferrite material and can be used in electromagnetic applications that require a high permeability, such as electromagnetic wave absorbers. However synthesizing nanosize Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 remains a challenge. This work deals with the preparation of Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 nanoparticles by self combustion technique. This technique is chosen because of its simplicity to obtain single phase Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4. Stoichiometric mixture of nickel(II) nitrate, Ni(NO3)26H2O; zinc(II) nitrate, Zn(NO3)26H2O; and iron(III) nitrate, Fe(NO3)39H2O; were dissolved in aqueous solutions nitric acid(HNO3 60%). The solutions were stirred separately at 250 r.p.m for one day and mixed into one solution. The mixture was stirred and gradual heating for every 15 minutes until the gel it obtained and combusted at 110◦C. Then, it was dried at 110 ◦C in an oven for 24 hours and the dried powder was crushed using a mortar for 1 hour. Furnace was used to anneal the samples at 800 ◦C, 900 ◦C and 1200 ◦C with holding time of 4 hours. Characterizations were done by using X-Ray Diffractions (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Raman Spectra and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The XRD patterns showed a major peak of [311] plane of the spinel cubic structure for Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 samples. By applying Scherer equations, the average crystallites sizes are 20 - 50 nm. Raman Spectra patterns had shown two major peaks located in the range 400 - 700 cm-1. FESEM morphology showed the cubic shape with average dimensions of 75 - 990 nm with the varying annealing temperature. From TEM morphologies, dimension of d-spacing are 2 nm and with the cubic shape of Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4. As a conclusion, the best morphology of Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 obtained at temperature 900 ◦C and is clearly observed and can be used as a magnetic feeder in the future.