Synthesis of Mixed Rb-Zn Ferrites by Novel Solution Combustion Method and Investigation on Their Microstructural Properties

Microstructural studies have been made on mixed rubidium nanoferrites of varying compositions, that is, R b 0 . 5 − / 2 Z n M n 0 . 0 5 F e 2 . 4 5 − / 2 O 4 prepared by solution combustion method from stoichiometric aqueous solutions of metal nitrates and ethylene glycol. The combustion method is rapid and approach direct conversion from the molecular mixture of precursor solution to the fine nanoparticles of oxide product. The ferrites obtained have been characterized by powder XRD, transmission electron microscopy, and EDXRF studies. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis shows the formation of single-phase structure. The lattice parameter “ ” has been found to increase with increasing Zn content. Both theoretical and experimental densities show a decreasing trend with decrease in molecular weight. The calculated value of the porosity has been found to be quite low which is a characteristic requirement of good-quality ferrite materials. TEM micrographs indicate the formation of nanosized ferrite particles which is in agreement with the size calculated from XRD data.