Synthesis of Nanosized Cesium Ferrite by Precursor and Combustion Method: A Comparative Study

Thermolysis of cesium hexa(carboxylato)ferrate(III) precursors, Cs₃Fe(L)₆].xH₂O (L = formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate), has been carried out in flowing air atmosphere from ambient temperature to 1000°C. Various physico‐chemical techniques, that is, simultaneous TG‐DTG‐DTA, XRD, TEM, IR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, have been employed to characterize the intermediates and end products. After dehydration, the anhydrous precursors undergo exothermic decomposition to yield various intermediates, that is, cesium carbonate/propionate/butyrate and α‐Fe₂O₃. A subsequent decomposition of these intermediates leads to the formation of cesium ferrite above 800°C. Similar ferrite has been prepared by the combustion method at comparatively lower temperature (600°C) and in less time than that of conventional ceramic method.