Ferrimagnetic ordering in nanostructured zinc ferrite

Abstract

Recent investigations of nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4 have suggested that the cation distribution in this material is partially inverted and this gives rise to scope for potential technological applications (1). In view of this a considerable amount of research has been done to investigate the effect of grain size on the cation distribution and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4. All these studies agree in one aspect that ZnFe2O4 is magnetically ordered with high ordering temperature and large magnetic moment. But they differ in predicting the type of magnetic ordering 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In order to confirm the type of magnetic ordering and to study the effect of grain boundary and surface spins on the magnetic properties of nanostructured ZnFe2O4, we have carried out Mössbauer and magnetisation studies on nanostructured ZnFe2O4 with various grain sizes prepared by ball milling technique.