Synthesis and characterization of FeVO4 nanoparticles

Iron vanadate (FeVO4) nanoparticles were synthesized by simple co-precipitation method using various surfactants such as ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 200 and polyethylene glycol 400 as the structure directing agents. Systematic investigations on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the materials have been studied. The lattice constants of the triclinic structure of FeVO4 were calculated from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The average grain size was estimated to be around 35 nm, which increased with increasing the calcination temperature. The stretching and bending vibrations of Fe-O were evaluated from the FT-IR spectra. Using VSM magnetometer, magnetic property was investigated through magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements. FeVO4 exhibits two magnetic ordering temperatures at T ≈ 20 K and 14 K, which is due to two different chemical environments of Fe ligands such as octahedral FeO6 and trigonal bipyramidal FeO5 in a six-column doubly bent chain, respectively.

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► Simple co-precipitation method were employed for the synthesis of FeVO4.
► The calcination temperature and the reaction time were optimized.
► The effect of surfactants on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties was studied.
► The shape of the particles changes due to the effect of surfactant.
► Enhancement of magnetic orderings on the addition of surfactant.