A simple route to synthesize nanocrystalline nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) in the presence of octanoic acid as a surfactant

doi:10.1016/j.poly.2009.03.020

Polyhedron

Volume 28, Issue 8, 10 June 2009, Pages 1455-1458

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2009.03.020 Get rights and content

Abstract

Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) powder was prepared by a co-precipitation method from Ni and Fe chlorides. The as-prepared samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). SEM and TEM indicated that the particles were spherical with particle sizes in the range 25 ± 5 nm. The magnetic properties of the sample were measured by using a vibrating sample magnetometer, which showed that the sample exhibited typical ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, while a finite coercivity of 245.5 Oe was present at 300 K. The saturation magnetization of the sample (23.13 emu/g) was significantly lower than that for the reported multidomain bulk particles (55 emu/g), reflecting the ultrafine nature of the sample.

Graphical abstract

Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) powder was prepared by a co-precipitation method from Ni and Fe chlorides. The as-prepared nickel ferrite nanocrystals were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and FTIR. SEM and TEM indicated that the particles were spherical with particle sizes in the range 25 ± 5 nm. The magnetic properties of the sample were measured by using a vibration sample magnetometer, which showed that the sample exhibited typical ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, while a finite coercivity of 245.5 Oe was present at 300 K.

Introduction

Spinel ferrites have been investigated in recent years for their useful electrical and magnetic properties, and applications in several important technological fields such as ferrofluids, magnetic drug delivery and magnetic high-density information storage [1], [2], [3], [4]. The synthesis and magnetic structure characterization of spinel metastable nano-ferrites have been investigated with much interest. Among these spinel ferrites, the inverse type is particularly interesting due to its high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, high saturation magnetization from a typical crystal and magnetic structure. The properties of the synthesized materials are influenced by the composition and microstructure, which are sensitive to the preparation methodology used in their synthesis. Many methods have been developed to prepare nanocrystallite NiFe₂O₄, namely sol–gel [5], co-precipitation [6], hydrothermal [7], [8], combustion [9], mechano-chemical [10], microemulsion methods [11], etc. [12], [13].

More recently NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized via the polyacrylamide gel method and annealing the products at a temperature higher than about 500 °C by Zhao et al. [14]. Baykal and coworkers [15] reported the synthesis of 20–50 nm nickel ferrite nanocrystals by the hydrothermal method at 130 °C for 15 h. To obtain pure NiFe₂O₄ nanocrystals, the product was annealed at 300 °C for 5 h. A magnetic nanocrystalline powder of NiFe₂O₄ was prepared by Barati et al. by the sol–gel auto-combustion method using n-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant [16].

This paper reports on the synthesis of nanosized nickel ferrite particles. The nanostructure and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite particles produced by the co-precipitation process were investigated. Co-precipitation can produce fine, high-purity, stoichiometric particles of single and multicomponent metal oxides. Furthermore, if process conditions such as solution pH, reaction temperature, stirring rate, metal salts concentration and surfactant concentration are carefully controlled, oxide particles of the desired shape and sizes can be produced [4]. We also describe the magnetic measurements obtained using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).

Section snippets

Materials

All of the chemical reagents were of analytical grade and were used without further purification. Double distilled, deionized water was used as a solvent. Manipulations and reactions were carried out in air without the protection of nitrogen or inert gas.

Characterization

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were obtained on Philips XL-30ESEM equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The TEM images were obtained on a Philips EM208 transmission electron microscope with an accelerating voltage of

Results and discussion

Fig. 2 shows the XRD pattern of the NiFe₂O₄. XRD peaks for the nanometer sized nickel ferrite (n-NiFe₂O₄) sample are significantly broader than those for a micrometer sized sample, indicating a very small particle size [17]. The crystallinity and structure of the NiFe₂O₄ nanocrystals were also confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fig. 2a shows the XRD diffractograms for the studied sample. All the characteristic peaks of NiFe₂O₄ are present: 30.29° (220), 35.7° (311), 37.31° (222),

Conclusion

In summary, nickel ferrite crystals with a normal spinel structure were obtained, with octanoic acid as a surfactant. Co-precipitation is a suitable method for the control of nanoparticle sizes with variation of the reaction conditions. The diameter of the nanocrystals is about 25 ± 5 nm. The size of the nanocrystals was measured both by XRD and TEM and the results were in very good agreement with each other. According to the TEM image there was some agglomeration of nanoparticles, but the size

Acknowledgement

Authors are grateful to the Council of the University of Kashan for providing financial support to undertake this work.

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A simple route to synthesize nanocrystalline nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) in the presence of octanoic acid as a surfactant

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials

Characterization

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

Biomaterials

J. Magn. Magn. Mater.

J. Magn. Magn. Mater.

Mater. Lett.

Sci. Eng., B, Solid-State Mater. Adv. Technol.

Mater. Res. Bull.

J. Phys. Chem. Solids

J. Phys. Chem. Solids

Physica B

J. Alloys Compd.

A simple route to synthesize nanocrystalline nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) in the presence of octanoic acid as a surfactant