Influence of the temperature in the electrochemical synthesis of cobalt ferrites nanoparticles

A new electrochemical method to synthesize cobalt ferrite nanoparticles has been developed. Magnetic measurement, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to characterize the cobalt ferrites synthesized at different temperatures between 25 °C and 80 °C. These techniques confirm the efficiency of the electrochemical method. At room temperature a mixture of different compounds was obtained with a particle diameter around 20 nm, while at 80 °C the synthesis of cobalt ferrite leads to a stoichiometric spinel, with a crystallite size of 40 nm measured by Scherrer equation. The temperature was defined as an important parameter to obtain stoichiometric ferrites and different diameters.

► Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by new electrochemical method. ► Temperature affects to percentage of inclusion of Co and diameter of the synthesized nanoparticles. ► At 80 °C and current densities of 50/25 mA cm−2 applied to Fe and Co, respectively, a stoichiometric CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with 40 nm of diameter were obtained.