A comparative study of structural, electrical and magnetic properties of magnesium ferrite nanoparticles synthesised by sol-gel and co-precipitation techniques, Journal of Experimental Nanoscience, 8:3, 347-357, DOI: 10.1080/17458080.2012 Nano-sized magnesium ferrite was synthesised using co-precipitation and sol-gel techniques. Structural characterisation was performed using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and scanning electron microscope. XRD analysis reveals the prepared samples are single phasic without any impurity. Particle size calculation shows that the crystallite size of sol-gel prepared samples is 9 nm and co-precipitation sample is 11 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed spinel structure of the prepared samples. Magnetic measurements show that both the samples are ferromagnetic with a high degree of isotropy in co-precipitation derived sample. The frequency dependence of the dielectric constant in the range 100 Hz-20 MHz was also investigated in the temperature range 303-533 K. The results of both the samples followed Maxwell-Wagner model based on interfacial polarisation in consonance with Koops theory.Keywords: nano-structured materials; magnesium ferrite; sol-gel technique; co-precipitation; magnetic measurement; dielectric properties
IntroductionDiverse practical applications of spinel ferrites of the type MFe 2 O 4 has attracted the attention of researchers for decades. Nano-sized magnetic ferrite particles exhibit unique properties, which enable their use in a wide range of applications such as high density recording, high frequency devices and magnetic refrigerators [1,2]. There are several methods for synthesising nano-sized spinel ferrites, such as co-precipitation, sol-gel, microemulsion, hydrothermal and reverse micelle method [3][4][5]. Magnesium ferrite is a typical spinel in which the cation distribution in the crystal lattice site is sensitive to heat treatment due to high diffusibility of Mg 2þ ions [6,7]. Magnesium ferrites are used as humidity sensors [8], catalysts [9] and also in magnetic and gas sensing applications [10,11]. When its crystallite size is below a certain value, MgFe 2 O 4 possesses unique superparamagnetic properties at room temperature and has promising potential for applications in transformers, ferrofluids and magnet cores of coils [12,13].