The magnetic behaviour of nanostructured zinc ferrite

We have investigated a series of nanostructured ZnFe₂O₄ samples produced by mechanical activation (mean particle sizes d ～50-8 nm) by variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements (2-535 K) supported by DC magnetisation measurements (4.2-300 K). The systematic increase in the mean inversion parameter (c ～0.04-0.43) with increasing milling time is accompanied by a gradual decrease in the occurrence of the long range antiferromagnetic ordering observed in the starting ZnFe₂O₄ material, as well as a gradual decrease in the related diffuse short range order peak. The neutron diffraction patterns of particles with d < ～15 nm and c> ～0.2 are consistent with the occurrence of ferrimagnetic order and exchange interactions of the type Fe³⁺A—O^2?—Fe³⁺ B]. Diagrams summarising the magnetic regions of nanostructured ZnFe₂O₄ are presented. The magnetic behaviour overall agrees well with the enhanced magnetisation and ferromagnetic behaviour reported for nanostructured, ultrafine and thin films of ZnFe₂O₄ by other groups using mainly magnetisation and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements.