Synthesis and characterization of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by hydrothermal decomposition of co-precipitated magnesium and iron hydroxides

In this work, formation of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles by the decomposition of co-precipitated magnesium and iron hydroxides between 300 and 450 °C temperatures and 500 atm water vapor pressure was studied. Decomposition mechanism and conditions of co-precipitated hydroxides was investigated by using XRD, FT–IR, SEM–EDS and simultaneous TG–DTA–MS analyses. It was found that magnesium and iron hydroxides were co-precipitated as amorphous layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and formation of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles took place via decomposition of LDHs as spatially separated thermodynamic stable phases under hydrothermal conditions. Crystallite sizes of the MgFe2O4 synthesized were calculated as in the range 45–60 nm. Comparison of thermodynamic calculations and experimental results showed that kinetic hindrances leaded to increase in theoretical formation temperature of MgFe2O4.