Magnetic study of 0.20(Fe2O3)/0.80(ZnO) nanocomposite

ZnO nanocrystals doped with Fe2O3 have been synthesized by the calcination method. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and dc magnetization measurements of 0.2(Fe2O3)/0.8(ZnO) nanocomposite have been carried out in the 4-300 K range. The presence of agglomerated magnetic zinc ferrite ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in 0.2(Fe2O3)/0.8(ZnO) nanocomposite with an average crystallite size of 8 nm was identified by XRD. Temperature dependence of the resonance field, linewidth and the integrated intensity calculated from FMR spectra has been determined. Magnetization measurements in ZFC and FC modes as well as study of hysteresis loops allowed calculating different magnetic characteristics - blocking/freezing temperature, magnetic moment, anisotropy constant and anisotropy field. The observed magnetic properties of 0.2(Fe2O3)/0.8(ZnO) nanocomposite were explained based on the core-shell model of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles covered by ZnO layer.