Zinc ferrite composite material with controllable morphology and its applications

[Display omitted] •The ZnFe2O4 with controlled morphologies and structures have been investigated.•We summarized the synthetic methods as well as the modifications of the ZnFe2O4.•The review also dealt with applications of the ZnFe2O4. ZnFe2O4 is an attractive material due to its unique properties and various applications. A large volume of works on the synthesis of ZnFe2O4 have been reported such as mechanochemical synthesis, co-precipitation method, sol-gel auto-combustion method, electrospinning method, hydrothermal/solvothermal method, and spray drying. The synthetic methodologies have significant influence on the properties, morphologies and structures of the ZnFe2O4. Moreover, with the Fe3+ and Zn2+ substituted by different metal ions, the properties of ZnFe2O4 can be altered. Besides, the zinc ferrite composites with controlled morphologies and structures have been investigated. Owing to the enhanced magnetic, electrical and catalytic properties of the zinc ferrite composites, extensive applications of zinc ferrite composites have been achieved. In this review, we summarized the synthetic methods as well as the modifications of the ZnFe2O4. The review also dealt with applications of the ZnFe2O4 and its composites in the fields of sensors, photocatalysis and lithium ion batteries, etc.