Preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 deposited on SiO2: in situ sol-gel process

In situ base catalyst assisted sol-gel process is used for the synthesis of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 deposition on SiO2 particles. The SiO2 particles were prepared using base catalyst assisted sol-gel process and the consecutive formation and deposition of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 on SiO2 particles was monitored using Powder X ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo Gravimetric And Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The crystallite size of CoFe2O4 is calculated using Scherrer's formula and it is found to be 8 nm. The HRTEM images and selective area electron diffraction (SAED) results confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4 particles deposited over SiO2 spheres.