Synthesis and structural characterization of In-doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles

In-doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared by a co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were charactarized by conventional powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was found that Zn1−xInxFe2O4 nanoparticles of size ≈4 nm can be formed for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6. However, only for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15, was it possible to obtain single phase samples. These new Zn1−xInxFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) nanoparticles exhibit behavior distinct from their bulk counterparts and present an evolution of the structural and physical properties as a function of x. Detailed results, as well as the interest of these materials both for applied and basic science perspectives will be presented.