Microwave absorbent properties of nanosized cobalt ferrite powders prepared by coprecipitation and subjected to different thermal treatments

Cobalt ferrite nanopowders were produced by means of two methods using a common precipitating agent. After precipitation, in the first method the cobalt ferrite was calcined, whilst in the second method the precipitation was followed by a hydrothermal treatment. Characterization of the obtained powders was achieved by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDAX). Frequency dependence of the complex dielectric permittivity and complex magnetic permeability, over the frequency range 0.1–6 GHz, was also studied. By means of the above mentioned investigations, the structure, morphology and microwave absorbent properties of the powders obtained by both methods were compared.