Distribution of cations in nanosize and bulk Co–Zn ferrites

Abstract

The structural and magnetic properties of Co(1-x)Zn(x)Fe2O4 ferrites (Co-Zn ferrites) are investigated in a narrow compositional range around x = 0.6, which is of interest because of applications in magnetic fluid hyperthermia. The study by x-ray and neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetization measurements is done on nanoparticles prepared by the coprecipitation method and bulk samples sintered at high temperatures. In spite of the known preference of Zn2+ for tetrahedral (A) sites and Co2+ for octahedral [B] sites, the cations are distributed nearly evenly over the two sites of spinel structure and there is also a variable number of [B] site vacancies (see text), making cobalt ions trivalent. In particular for x = 0.6, the cationic distribution is refined to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for the 13 nm particles (T(C) = 335 K) and bulk sample (T(C) = 351 K), respectively.