Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline zinc ferrite spinel powders by homogeneous precipitation method

Single-phase nanocrystalline zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) spinel powders have been successfully synthesized by an easy homogeneous precipitation method in short precipitation time at low calcination temperature (250 degrees C). Characterization of the synthesized samples were carried out by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, surface area measurements, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The spinel ZnFe2O4 powders consist of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 5.2 +/- 0.61 nm. The antifungal activity of the nanocrystalline zinc ferrite powders was tested against pathogenic Candida albicans using the disc-diffusion susceptibility method. The nanocrystalline zinc ferrite powders exhibit strong antifungal activity against pathogenic C. albicans. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.