Spectroscopy investigation of nanostructured zinc ferrite obtained by mechanochemical synthesis

Abstract

ZnFe2O4 has been obtained by soft mechanochemical synthesis in a planetary ball mill. Zn(OH)2 and α-Fe2O3 are used as initial compounds. This mixture was activated mechanically for 18 h, uniaxially pressed and sintered at 1100°C/2h. The phase composition and cation distribution of the as-prepared and the sintered samples were analysed by XRD, Raman and IR spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Morphology was examined by SEM. For investigation of the relaxation mechanism in the sintered ZnFe2O4 we used the complex impedance measurement, which suggested that the resistance of grain boundary and the resistance of bulk (grain) coexist in the temperature range 298-423 K and give adequate frequency-dependent responses.