Synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles by mechanochemical processing using a ball mill

Ferrites with the spinel structure have a wide field of technological applications. In the present study, various ferrite (Fe3O4, CoFe2O4 and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized by mechanochemical reaction in aqueous solution of various chlorides (FeCl3, CoCl2 or NiCl2/ZnCl2) and NaOH in a horizontal ball mill. Structures, morphologies, compositions and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), analytical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It was revealed that the particle size of the ferrite nanoparticles can be controlled by milling conditions, such as the milling time and the pH value (R value) of starting solution. The average size of Fe3O4 particles milled for 259.2 ks and 432.0 ks at R = I were 30 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Also, the particles milled for 259.2 ks at R = 0.5 had the size of 100 run. The formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles from the aqueous solutions with the different R values proceeded via two different processes. In the case of R = 1, alpha-Fe nanoparticles formed first, and then oxidized to become Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Meanwhile, in the case of R not equal 1, alpha-FeOOH phase formed, and changed to Fe3O4 nanoparticles by milling. For magnetic properties, the magnetization at 1.2 MA/m was the value of 72 muWb.m/kg after milling for longer than 86.4 ks with R = 1. The coercivity was the maximum of 10.8 kA/m after milling for 259.2 ks with R = 0.5. The particle sizes of CoFe2O4 milled for 259.2 ks at R = I and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 milled for 345.6 ks at R = I were about 30 nm. The magnetization values of CoFe2O4 and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 were about 55 muWb.m/kg, with coercivity values of 43.4 kA/m and 5.3 kA/m, respectively.