Synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline MnFe2O4 nanorods via a surfactant-free hydrothermal route

Uniform, high-quality, single-crystalline MnFe2O4 nanorods with diameter around 25 nm and length up to 500 nm, have been reproducibly synthesized via a surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The growth direction of the obtained nanowires was determined to be its [1 1 1] direction, resulting in the increase of saturation magnetization. Mn2+ is responsible for one-dimensional growth of the nanorods, and the effects of reaction time and solution concentration on the morphology and crystallization of the MnFe2O4 nanorods were investigated. Saturation magnetization of the nanorods is 74.0 emu/g, which is among the best value reported so far.