Investigation of phase formation of (Zn, Mg)0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 nanoferrites

• Nanosized Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 and Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 compounds have been successfully synthesized from single phase mixtures of ZnFe2O4/CoFe2O4 and MgFe2O4/CoFe2O4 respectively.
• The Mössbauer results for samples prepared in this technique and glycol-thermal reaction are comparable.
• Higher coercive fields have been observed for compounds prepared by ball milling technique.

Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 and Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles have been prepared through high energy ball milling of single phase mixtures of ZnFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 or MgFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 nanosized oxides. The Mössbauer spectra of the milled products ZnFe2O4/CoFe2O4 and MgFe2O4/CoFe2O4 reveal the presence of Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 and Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4, respectively. In an alternative route, Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 and Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 compounds were prepared directly from metal chloride solutions through glycol-thermal reaction. The coercive fields of the Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 and Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 oxides produced by glycol-thermal reaction were found to be about 100 Oe and 161 Oe, respectively. Larger coercive fields of about 184 Oe and 255 Oe have been observed for the milled ZnFe2O4/CoFe2O4 and MgFe2O4/CoFe2O4 oxides.