Effect of zinc concentration on the magnetic properties of cobalt–zinc nanoferrite

Nano-cobalt–zinc ferrite (CZFO) Co(1−x)ZnxFe2O4 with varied quantities of zinc (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) have been prepared by solution combustion method. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the size, structure and morphology of the nanoferrites. The addition of zinc in cobalt ferrite has been shown to play a crucial role in enhancing the magnetic properties. Ferromagnetic ordering is observed in nano samples at room temperature. Zn substitution shows maximum saturation magnetization for x = 0.1, that is 56.74 emu/g and then decreases for further increase in Zn substitution. The dependence of Mössbauer parameters viz. isomer shift and hyperfine magnetic field with zinc concentration has been studied. Mössbauer results are also supported by magnetization data. The results obtained from this method make these samples suitable for preparing high quality nanocrystalline ferrite for high density data storage applications.