Magnetic and structural studies on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation, normal micelles and reverse micelles methods

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation, normal micelles and reverse micelles methods of iron and cobalt chlorides. X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer were carried out at room temperature to study the structural and magnetic properties. X-ray patterns revealed the production of a broad single cubic phase with the average particle sizes of ∼12nm, 5nm and 8nm for co-precipitation, normal micelles and reverse micelles methods, respectively. The FTIR measurements between 400 and 4000cm−1 confirmed the intrinsic cation vibrations of spinel structure for each one of the three methods. Moreover, the average particle sizes were lower than the single domain size (128nm) and higher than the super-paramagnetic size (2–3nm) at room temperature. The results revealed that the magnetic properties depend on the particle size and cation distribution, whereas the role of particle size is more significant. ► Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. ► Normal micelle, reverse micelle methods of iron and cobalt chlorides. ► Different particle sizes, cation distributions, structural and magnetic properties could be achieved. ► The results showed that effect of different particle sizes obtained from co-precipitation (12nm), reverse micelle (8nm). ► And normal micelle (5nm) is more than the effect of cation distribution on the magnetic properties