Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline MgAlxFe2-xO4 ferrites

The structural and magnetic properties of the Al cosubstituted cubic spinel ferrite series MgAlxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.0) synthesized through a coprecipitation method were characterized by means of x-ray powder diffraction, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analyses, and vibrating sample magnetometer. Lattice constants determined from x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements exhibit a decrease with increasing Al3+ ions in the ferrites system. The particle size using TEM was similar to 33 nm for magnesium ferrite, which is in good agreement with values obtained by XRD method. The crystallization spinel formation for the parent ferrite MgFe2O4 using differential thermal analysis (DTA) technique was 454 degrees C. The two main bands observed in the IR spectra (tetrahedral and octahedral) were in the range (568-628 cm(-1)) and (431-460 cm(-1)), respectively. Magnetization curve shows the highest value for the sample with concentration x = 0.4.