XRD, Mössbauer and magnetic properties of MgxCo1−xFe2O4 nanoferrites

• MgxCo1-xFe2O4 compounds of crystallite sizes between 9-15 nm were synthesized.
• Magnetic properties and crystallite sizes are correlated with Mg content.
• Two distinct composition ranges are identified.
• Coercive fields show strong linear correlation with particle sizes.

We report Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetization studies of MgxCo1−xFe2O4 (0≤x≤1.0) nanoferrites. The crystallite size varies between 9 nm and 15 nm. The properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry. The XRD results indicate pure cubic spinel structure for all the compounds. The evolution of the properties has been explained on the basis of Mg content and crystallite sizes. The Mössbauer and magnetization results show strong dependence of the properties on crystallite size and non-magnetic Mg2+ ion concentration.