Preparation, characterization and study of magnetic induction heating of Co-Cu nanoparticles

The communication describes prospects of ferrite with composition Co0.88 Cu0.12 Fe2 O4 suitable for magnetic hyperthermia. Samples were processed by sol-gel method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as chelating agent keeping ferrite to PEG weight ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. Mean particle sizes of annealed powders at 400 ℃ ranging from 7.1 nm to 5.4 nm were in good agreement with the estimated crystallite sizes from X-ray diffraction patterns using Williamson-Hall analysis. Based on the variation of saturation magnetization with annealing temperature, the optimum weight ratio of ferrite to PEG was found to be 1:2. The heating efficiency of nanoparticles fabricated with ferrite-PEG weight ratio 1:2 was demonstrated using the magnetic induction heating experiment. The values of specific absorption rate 54 W/g and 83.3 W/g for the nanoparticle concentrations, 10 mg/mL and 15 mg/mL reveal the ability of Co-Cu ferrite nanoparticles as a heating agent. [Display omitted] •Co-Cu nanoparticles of size in the range 5.4–7.1 nm were synthesized by PEG assisted sol-gel method.•Decrease in size of NPs was observed with increase in ferrite to PEG weight ratio.•A sample with an average particle size of 28.3 nm demonstrated high saturation magnetisation (76.5 emu/g).•Magnetic induction heating revealed heating capabilities near to 46 ℃ for approximately 35 min at concentration 15 mg/mL.•For NPs concentrations of 15 mg/mL, a SAR of 83.3 W/g was found.