Size-dependent magnetic properties of calcium ferrite nanoparticles

The union of nanotechnology with the other fields of science heralds the influx of many newer and better technologies, with the capability to revolutionize the human life. In the present work, calcium ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by conventional sol-gel method and were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscope, Vibrating sample magnetometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope. The synthesized nanoparticles were calcined at different temperatures and their magnetic behaviour was studied. The synthesized nanoparticles calcined at 900 degrees C were formed in the shape of capsules and exhibited mixed characteristics of ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic grains with magnetic saturation of 0.85 emu/g whereas nanoparticles calcined at 500 degrees C were spherical in shape and exhibited superparamagnetic characteristics with saturation magnetization of 37.67 emu/g. (C) 2013 ElsevierB.V. All rights reserved.