Magnetite/Mn-ferrite nanocomposite with improved magnetic properties

Abstract Magnetic nanocomposites can show enhanced properties compared to their single phase counterparts. Novel soft ferrite Fe 3 O 4 /soft ferrite MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite, as well as pure MnFe 2 O 4 and Fe 3 O 4 for the sake of comparison, were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The spinel type of structure (space group Fd 3 ¯ m ) of the samples was confirmed by XRPD and SAED. Samples are composed of spherical particles with size in the range 5–15 nm. Nanocomposite (92 wt%) MnFe 2 O 4 /(8 wt%) Fe 3 O 4 exert single phase like magnetic behavior. Saturation magnetization ( M S ) of Fe 3 O 4 /MnFe 2 O 4 is 26% greater than M S of MnFe 2 O 4 and even 50% than M S of Fe 3 O 4 . At the same time coercivity field of the nanocomposite is twice less value ( H C =180 Oe) than in binary ferrites ( H C =360 Oe). Magnetization enhancement and softening in Magnetite/Mn-ferrite is discussed related to particle interactions among two different ferrites and intrinsic properties of nanoparticles. Tailoring phase ratio and synthesis conditions can be a tool for tuning magnetic properties of nanocomposites.