ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for ferrofluids: A combined XANES and XRD study

A soft-chemistry method is used to synthesize zinc ferrite nanoparticles to prepare a magnetic fluid. We investigate here their internal structure by X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). A cross analysis of XANES and Rietveld refinement of XRD spectra shows non-equilibrium site occupancy with respect to bulk zinc ferrite, suggesting a cation redistribution that enhances the magnetic and magneto-optical responses of the nanoparticles. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.