Synthesis and characterization of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

A cobalt ferrite nanocompound was synthesized by the coprecipitation method, using cobaltous and ferric nitrates as metallic precursors. The synthesized compound was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. It was determined that the nanoparticles have an average size of approximately 4 nm, and crystallized in the cubic spinel structure, although a second crystalline phase of hematite was obtained. Magnetization measurements as a function of the applied magnetic field suggest that the synthesized nanocompound has an antiferromagnetic behavior, as a consequence of the abundant phase of hematite.