Ultrasonic cavitation assisted solvothermal synthesis of superparamagnetic zinc ferrite nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of cubic zinc ferrites (Fd3¯m, a = 8.41(3)–8.44(1) Å) were synthesized as a single phase by an ultrasonic cavitation-assisted solvothermal technique using ethyl alcohol–water mixed solvents at temperatures of 150 °C or higher for 18 h or more. The influences of the ultrasonic cavitation and the use of C2H5OH–H2O mixed solvents in diminishing average particle size and in improving particle size uniformity were illustrated. The largest average size of nanoparticles obtained was 20 nm as measured from SEM photographs, with crystallite size of approximately 10 nm as estimated from XRD results. The room-temperature field-dependent magnetization of the nanoparticles obtained showed a characteristic S feature with magnetization of 24.32 emu/g at 1 T.

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles of uniformed particle size (approximately 20 nm in average) were synthesized by ultrasonic wave assisted hydrothermal process. The particles exhibited superparamagnetic property with high magnetization.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Zinc ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted solvothermal technique.
► Narrow particle size distributions with average size of ca. 20 nm were obtained.
► Particles showed superparamagnetism with high magnetization of 24.32 emu/g at 1 T.