Low-temperature synthesis of Mn0.2Ni0.2Zn0.6Fe2O4 ferrites by citrate precursor method and study of their properties

Mn0.2Ni0.2Zn0.6Fe2O4 ferrite nano-particles are processed at temperatures as low as 60 °C by the citrate precursor method. The lattice parameter is observed to increase from 8.415 to 8.438 Å with increase in calcination temperature from 60 °C to 500 °C. The increase in saturation magnetization from 19 to 43 emu/gm (A m2/kg) with increase in calcination temperature is attributed to a change in the cation distribution and random canting of particle surface spins in nanosize particles. For improved magnetic properties, samples are sintered at temperatures ranging from 1100–1400 °C. The substantial increase in initial relative permeability (from 150 to 700) with increase in sintering temperature is attributed to an increase in intra-granular domain walls. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)