Synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanosized powders from pulsed metallic zinc and iron wire discharge in oxygen

Nanocrystalline zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) powders have been synthesized successfully by high power, short pulse, electric discharge using metallic Fe and Zn wires in oxygen gas. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mean size of the particles obtained was determined by both Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) and TEM varied from 12 to 56 nm depending on the oxygen pressure. XRD analysis clearly showed that zinc ferrite spinel was obtained. As-synthesized powder displays good magnetic property. The results demonstrated that the present method is an effective pathway for producing high quality ferrite nanocrystalline powder.