Tuning of magnetic properties in cobalt ferrite by varying Fe+2 and Co+2 molar ratios

Different grades of magnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized with various molar ratios of Fe+2 to Co+2 ions in the initial salt solutions by the co-precipitation method. The crystal structure and morphology of the nanoparticles are obtained from X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis exhibited the Fe–O stretching vibration ~540 cm−1, confirming the formation of metal oxide. The magnetic studies demonstrate that all of the nanoparticles are superparamagnetic at 300 K. The saturation magnetization and coercivity of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are affected by the molar ratios of Fe+2 to Co+2 ions. Among all the synthesized nanoparticles, the system with 75:25 molar ratio of Fe+2 to Co+2 ions with a particle size of 13 nm showed a high magnetization of 90 emu/g.