Stability and magnetic interactions between magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in zeolite as studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy

• Dispersion of superparamagnetic magnetite particles in zeolite.
• A strong binding of magnetite particles in zeolite deduced using Mössbauer studies.
• Difference in spin relaxation behavior of bare and zeolite dispersed magnetite particles.
• A strong dipole–dipole interactions between magnetite particles.

Stability of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles as formed in Zeolite has been addressed in a detailed manner based on isochronal annealing studies using Mössbauer spectroscopy. A strong binding of these nanoparticles in Zeolite has been deduced as the coarsening of the nanoparticles is observed following annealing treatments beyond 825 K. In addition, the magnetic interactions between these superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles in the as dispersed condition in Zeolite have been elucidated by means of low temperature Mössbauer studies. A strong dependence of the dipole–dipole interactions between superparamagnetic particles of cubic iron oxides is deduced based on this study.