The effect of annealing on phase evolution, microstructure and magnetic properties of Mn substituted CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

•An auto-combustion method support to prepare less size of particles.•The excellent magnetic properties obtained by as-burnt samples.•Nature of the ferrites was affected with increasing annealing temperature.

Manganese substituted CoFe2O4 nanoparticles has been prepared by a simple evaporation method and auto combustion method. The role of annealing temperature on phase, particle size and morphology of Mn–Co ferrite nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lowest size of particles (~3 nm) is obtained by auto combustion method. The annealing effect creates a vital change in magnetic properties which is studied by using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). These spinel ferrites are decomposed to α-Fe2O3 after annealing above 550 °C in air. However, α-Fe2O3 phase was slowly vanished after ferrites annealing above 900 °C. The effect of this secondary phase on the structural and magnetic properties of Mn substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles is also discussed.