Nanoparticles with controllable sizes of ferrite spinel CoFe₂O₄ were formed by thermal treatment of cobalt-iron glycerolate. Thermal behavior during the heating was studied by differential thermal analysis combined with thermogravimetry. The precursor, as well as the prepared nanoparticles, were analyzed by a broad spectrum of analytic techniques (X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy). The particle size of nanoparticles was obtained from Transmission electron microscopy and also calculated using Scherrer formula. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) in a Physical Property Measurement System was used to analyze the magnetic properties of nanoparticles.
Keywords: ferrites; magnetic properties; nanoparticles; spinels; thermal decomposition.