Abstract
In the present investigation, we successfully synthesized a pure MnFe2O4 ferrite by the hydrothermal method. Moreover, the effect of Mg ion content on the formation of Mn1-xMgxFe2O4 particles (with x varying from 0.1 to 1.0) was also investigated using XRD, SEM, TEM and Mossbauer Spectroscopy.
Phases formed in the system Mn1-xMgxFe2O4; 0.0 <= x <= 1.0 were investigated under hydrothermal conditions at 453 K. The produced phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning, transmission microscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The information of composition, cation distribution in the spinel structure and the particle size of the products were obtained. The spinel ferrites; Mn1-xMgxFe2O4 were formed in the range 0.0 < x < 0.3. However, sample with x > 0.3 showed semi-crystalline magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and hematite (Fe2O3) beside the ferrite phase. For x = 1.0, only magnesium hydroxide and hematite are formed without any ferrites.
Particles of uniform size around 10-20 nm were obtained in the spinet structure of Mn1-xMgxFe2O4 with x = 0.0 and 0.1. The corresponding average crystallite size for each sample was 40.3 nm and 39.2 nm respectively. In addition, the Mossbauer spectra were analyzed into two subspectra, one for the tetrahedral A-site and the other for the octahedral B-site. The Mossbauer parameters were determined and discussed for the studied system. The cation distribution was estimated from the analysis of the Mossbauer spectra as well as the X-ray diffraction patterns. The results showed that Mg ions occupy mainly B-site while both Mn and Fe ions are distributed between A- and B-sites. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.