Synthesis and characterization of shape-controlled Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 via the coprecipitation method

Fe3+ was used for preparing spherical Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 with an average diameter of 40 nm by the coprecipitation method. Fe2+ and various precipitators (NaOH, Na2CO3 and NH3·H2O) were used for preparing doped FeOOH with different morphologies and crystal types by the coprecipitation–air oxygenation method. Spindle-like and rod-like size-controlled Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 samples were obtained subsequent to the calcinations of the precursor, for Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 maintained the morphology of the doped FeOOH. The phase, morphology, and particle diameter of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the magnetic properties were measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It was found that the coercivity of the sample increased with an increase in the effective anisotropy. Also, the comprehensive magnetic properties of the samples obtained via Fe2+ and the NaOH precipitator were optimum, and the coercivity, saturation magnetization, and remanent magnetization for the Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 sample were obtained as 90.5 Oe, 54.3 emu/g, and 5.1 emu/g, respectively.