The role of annealing temperature and bio template (egg white) on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of manganese substituted MFe2O4 (M=Zn, Cu, Ni, Co) nanoparticles

Manganese substituted ferrites (ZnFe2O4, CuFe2O4, NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4) have been prepared in the bio template medium by using a simple evaporation method. The annealing temperature plays an important position on changing particle size and morphology of the mixed ferrite nanoparticles were found out by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. The role of manganese substitution in the mixed ferrite nanoparticles were also analyzed for different annealing temperature. The substitution of Mn also creates a vital change in magnetic properties which is studied by using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). These spinet ferrites are decomposed to alpha-Fe2O3 after annealing above 550 degrees C in air. However, alpha-Fe2O3 phase was slowly vanished after ferrites annealing above 900 degrees C. The effect of this secondary phase on the structural change and magnetic properties of the mixed ferrite nanoparticles is discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.