ON THE MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF ULTRA-FINE ZINC FERRITES

Zinc ferrite belongs to the class of normal spinels where it is assume d to have a cation distribution of Zn2+(Fe3+)(2)(O2-)(4), and it is pu rported to be showing zero net magnetisation. However, there have been recent reports suggesting that zinc ferrite exhibits anomaly in its m agnetisation. Zinc ferrite samples have been prepared by two different routes and have been analysed using low energy ion scattering, Mossba uer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The results indicate that zinc occupies octahedral sites, contrary to the earlier belief that zi nc occupies only the tetrahedral sites in a normal spinel. The amount of zinc on the B site increases with decrease in particle size. The LE IS results together with the Mossbauer results and the magnetic measur ements lead to the conclusion that zinc occupies the B site and the ma gnetisation exhibited by ultrafine particles of zinc is due to short r ange ordering. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.