Synthesis of MgFe2O4 nanocrystallites under mild conditions

MgFe2O4 nanocrystallites were synthesized by a sol–gel/combustion method. The thermal decomposition of the precursor and subsequent formation of MgFe2O4 were investigated by TG–DSC, FT-IR, XRD and TEM. A well-crystallized MgFe2O4 powder was obtained after annealing in air at 500 °C for 2 h. The average particle size of the ferrite calcined at 500 °C is ∼10 nm, with a narrow size distribution. The particle size increased dramatically with the increase of calcining temperature. The saturation magnetizations of the nanocrystalline MgFe2O4 calcined at 500–900 °C are 9.9 and 30.6 emu g−1, respectively.