Copper ferrite obtained by two “soft chemistry” routes

Nanoparticles of copper ferrites with tetragonal structure were obtained by two soft chemical methods: a complexation method and a self-propagating combustion. We demonstrated that in both these methods the precursors of copper ferrites were polynuclear coordination compounds. Three polynuclear coordination compounds with glycine as ligands: [Fe(III)2Cu(II)(NH2CH2COO)4(OH)3](NO3)·H2O, [Fe(III)2Cu(II)(NH2CH2COO)6(NH2CH2COOH)2](NO3)2 and [Fe(III)2Cu(II)(NH2CH2COOH)4.5](NO3)8·4H2O were synthesized. The complex compounds were characterized by elemental chemical analysis and physico-chemical measurements (IR, UV–vis, magnetic measurements). The copper ferrites were investigated by XRD, IR spectra and magnetic measurements. The crystallite sizes of the copper ferrites were found in the range 18–29 nm.