Magnetic properties of CoxFe3−xO4 during conversion from normal to inverse spinel particles

Cobalt ferrite, CoxFe3−xO4 with 0.55≤x≤0.8, is produced by precipitation from aqueous solutions. Drying and annealing at temperatures below 300 °C results in a coercivity that increases with increasing temperature. Mössbauer effect spectroscopy and magnetic measurements are consistent with the interpretation that these Co ferrites have a (mostly) normal spinel structure as made. These convert to a (mostly) inverse spinel structure on thermal aging. No significant morphological changes occur during this transformation. Coercivities as high as μ0Hc=0.2 T are observed.