Microwave-assisted synthesis and magnetic properties of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder

• Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder with particle size of ~1.0 μm was synthesized by microwave-assisted solid state reaction technology.
• The synthesizing temperature and duration of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder are remarkablyremarkably lowered by microwave-assisted synthesis.
• The magnetic properties of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder can be significantly improved by an appropriate microwave synthesizing process.

Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder with particle size of ~1.0 μm was synthesized by microwave-assisted solid state reaction technology. The as-received Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Compared with conventional solid state reaction, the results show that the synthesizing temperature and duration of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder are remarkably lowered by microwave-assisted synthesis. It may be attributed to its enhanced solid phase diffusion and solid state reaction rate for the microwave heating mechanism. The magnetic properties of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite powder can be significantly improved by an appropriate microwave synthesizing process.