Synthesis of cubic CuFe2O4 nanoparticles by microwave-hydrothermal method and their magnetic properties

• CuFe2O4 nanoparticles as a magnetic material.
• They were prepared by microwave-hydrothermal method.
• Their magnetization was increased with increasing in the crystalline degree.

Copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles were prepared in alkaline solutions containing Cu(NO3)2·6H2O and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O with the pH of 6–12 by microwave-hydrothermal method. The as-prepared products characterized by XRD were specified as cubic CuFe2O4 phase. Average sizes of the CuFe2O4 nanoparticles calculated by Scherrer formula are in the same range as those obtained by TEM analysis. FTIR shows main transmittance band at 585 cm−1, corresponding to stretching mode of tetrahedral complexes. Saturation magnetization, remanence and coercivity were increased with increasing in the particle-size and crystalline degree of the nanoparticles.