The effect of the starting solution on the physico-chemical properties of zinc ferrite synthesized at low temperature

Fine particle zinc ferrite powders (ZnFe2O4) were synthesized by co-precipitation of a bi-ionic Fe3+/Zn2+ solution with I M n-butylamine at low temperature. Ferric nitrate and ferrous sulphate solutions were used as the starting material to investigate the effect of the source of iron on particle size, morphology, thermal behaviour and surface area of the final products. ZnFe2O4. In both cases, Zn2+ ions were provided by ZnO. The ferrous ions of the sulphate solution were previously oxidized with H2O2 in sulphuric medium. The cubic spinel-type structure of the ferrite product was obtained at a lower temperature when nitrate solution was used. Zinc ferrite of smaller particle size and higher surface area was obtained when ferrous sulphate was used as the starting solution. The ferrite precursors produced at room temperature and final products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, thermal analyses, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption volumetry. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.