The disordered cation distribution studies of nanosized zinc ferrite powders by synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The non-equilibrium site occupancy of zinc (Zn²⁺) and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions in dissimilar nanosized zinc ferrites (ZnFe₂O₄)powders obtained from the different milling time (0 to 24 h) of the as-combusted powders was investigated through Zn and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra. Compared with the bulk specimen of zinc ferrite, both XANES and EXAFS spectra of nanosized zinc ferrite powders clearly exhibit the large Zn²⁺ ions translocation from the tetrahedral (A) sites to the octahedral (B) sites leading to the movement of many Fe³⁺ ions in the opposite direction without the variation in the long-range structural order.