Microstructural investigations of ferrite nanoparticles prepared by nonaqueous precipitation route

Nanosized particles of ferrites were prepared by heat treatment of the precipitates, obtained from a homogeneous solution of stearic acid and iron(III) nitrate. The heat-treated precipitates were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The SAXS studies indicate that the small particles (average size ∼9 nm.) in the sample heat-treated at 300°C form large complex structures via agglomeration. It was found that the particle size distribution in the samples heat treated at 400 and 500°C increased with increasing temperature, without any agglomeration. TEM investigations corroborate the SAXS results. Scaling behavior of structures was observed for samples heat treated at 400 and 500°C. The specimen heat treated at 300°C exhibited only a partial scaling behavior.