Low-cost novel synthesis route to prepare cobalt ferrite based nanocrystals

Magnetic nanoparticles of cobalt ferrite are synthesized via a simple reduction route. These synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared studies and their magnetic properties were measured using Vibrating-sample magnetometer. The XRD analysis confirms the formation of single phase CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, with cubic spinel structure, having crystalline size of 5-10 nm, depending on the annealing temperature. Raman spectra analysis confirmed that all the synthesized powders are phase pure. The maximum magnetic saturation of 268 A m-1 has been observed for the sample calcined at 600 C and correspondingly the magnetic anisotropic constant values are reported. The proposed hydrazine reduction synthesis route is simple in execution and cost effective, which makes it economically adaptable for large scale production of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles.