Synthesis and characterization of nanosize nickel-doped cobalt ferrite obtained by precursor combustion method

Nanoparticles of the spinel ferrite, Co1-x Ni (x) Fe2O4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.3) have been synthesized by the precursor combustion technique. Novel precursors of metal fumarato-hydrazinate have been employed to yield the nanosized spinel ferrite. A characteristic feature of these precursors is that they decompose autocatalytically after ignition to give the monophasic nanocrystalline ferrite. This fact is corroborated by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The thermal decomposition pattern of the precursors has been studied by isothermal thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. In order to fix the chemical composition, the precursors have been characterized by FTIR and chemical analysis and their chemical composition has been fixed accordingly. The Curie temperature of the "as-prepared" oxide was determined by alternating current susceptibility measurements.