Abstract
In the present article, zinc cobalt ferrite (Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) nanopowders were synthesized by a template-assisted citric combustion method. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-4000) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used as the templating agents for controlling the anisotropy and the microstructure of the Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanopowder. The synthesized nanopowders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that pure samples were obtained at calcining temperature of 700°C and the templates remarkably changed microstructure and magnetic behavior of the nanopowders. All of the powders synthesized were ferromagnetic. The powder synthesized with template PEG-4000 had a smallest coercivity (75 Oe) but largest magnetization (80.3 emu · g−1) close to that of bulk material. The powders synthesized without template exhibited moderate coercivity (1864 Oe) and smallest magnetization (53.2 emu · g−1). A largest coercivity (3986 Oe) and a moderate magnetization (60.9 emu · g−1) were observed when the template CMC was used. The variation in the magnetic nature of the powders can be related to their anisotropy growth and average particle size.