Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of spinel ferrite (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe2O4 from low nickel matte

Spinel ferrite (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe2O4 was synthesized from the low nickel matte by using a co-precipitation-calcination method for the first time. The influences of the added amount of NiCl2·6H2O, calcination temperature and time on the structure and magnetic properties of the as-prepared ferrites were studied in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It is indicated that pure (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe2O4 with cubic phase could be obtained under the experimental conditions (NiCl2·6H2O added amount of 3.0: 100 g mL−1, calcination temperature from 800 to 1000 °C and calcination time from 1 to 3 h). With increasing calcination temperature and time, saturation magnetization (MS) of the synthesized (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe2O4 increased and the coercivity (HC) decreased. Under the optimum conditions (i.e. NiCl2·6H2O added amount of 3.0: 100 g mL−1, 1000 °C, 3 h), the MS and HC values of the product were approximately 46.1 emu g−1 and 51.0 Oe, respectively, which were competitive to those of other nickel ferrites synthesized from pure chemical reagents. This method explores a novel pathway for efficient and comprehensive utilization of the low nickel matte.