A Structural and magnetic investigation of the inversion degree in ferrite nanocrystals mfe2o4 (M = Mn, Co, Ni)

D. Carta, M. F. Casula, A. Falqui, Danilo Loche, G. Mountjoy, C. Sangregorio, A. Corrias*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

464 Scopus citations

Abstract

The structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline manganese, cobalt, and nickel spinel ferrites dispersed in a highly porous SiO2 aerogel matrix were studied. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicate that single crystalline ferrite nanoparticles are well dispersed in the amorphous matrix. The cation distribution between the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure was investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The analysis of both the X-ray absorption near edge structure and the extended X-ray absorption line structure indicates that the degree of inversion of the spinel structure increases in the series Mn, Co, and Ni spinel, in accordance with the values commonly found in the corresponding bulk spinels. In particular, fitting of the EXAFS data indicates that the degree of inversion in nanosized ferrites is 0.20 for MnFe2O 4, 0.68 for CoFe2O4, and 1.00 for NiFe 2O4. Magnetic characterization further supports these findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8606-8615
Number of pages10
JournalJOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
Volume113
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 21 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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