The influence of cobalt population on the structural properties of CoxFe3−xO4

Abstract

Co x Fe 3 − x O 4 -based (x=0.05–1.6) nanoparticles prepared by combustion reaction were investigated using x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer data revealed Co2+ in both tetrahedral (site A) and octahedral (site B) sites of the cubic ferrite structure. For x⩽0.4 the experimental data indicated the synthesis of a core-shell structure, with hematite as the shell and cobalt ferrite as the core of the nanoparticle. Differences in crystalline structure between the two phases support the evidences we found of a highly stressed core-shell interface, leading to symmetry reduction of the tetrahedral and octahedral sites.