Stoichiometric synthesis of a pure ferrite from a tailored layered double hydroxide (hydrotalcite-like) precursor

Calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor containing MgII, FeII and FeIII cations with an Mg2+(FeII + FeIII) ratio of 0.5 affords a pure ferrite spinel, MgFe2O4, which has a higher saturation magnetization than samples of the same material produced by conventional ceramic routes.