Synthesis and characterisation of [Ni.sub.0.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][O.sub.4] nanostructures

The synthesis of [Ni.sub.0.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][O.sub.4] nanoparticles has been achieved by a simple thermal decomposition method from the inorganic precursor, [Ni.sub.0.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][(cin).sub.3][([N.sub.2][H.sub.4]).sub.5], which was obtained by a novel precipitation method from the corresponding metal salts, cinnamic acid and hydrazine hydrate. The precursor was characterised by hydrazine and metal analyses, infrared spectral analysis and thermo gravimetric analysis. On appropriate annealing, [Ni.sub.o.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][(cin).sub.3][([N.sub.2][H.sub.4]).sub.5] yielded [Ni.sub.0.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][O.sub.4] nanoparticles, which were characterised for their size and structure using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. KEY WORDS: [Ni.sub.0.25][Co.sub.0.75][Fe.sub.2][O.sub.4] nanoparticles, XRD, HRTEM, SAED, SEM