Aqueous Solution Preparation, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Nano-Granular ZnxFe3−xO4 Ferrite Films

This paper reports a simple and novel process for preparing nano-granular Zn(x)Fe(3-x)O(4) ferrite films (0 </= x </= 0.99) on Ag-coated glass substrates in DMAB-Fe(NO(3))(3)-Zn(NO(3))(2) solutions. The deposition process may be applied in preparing other cations-doped spinel ferrite films. The Zn content x in the Zn(x)Fe(3-x)O(4) films depends linearly on the Zn(2+) ion concentration ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 mM in the aqueous solutions. With x increasing from 0 to 0.99, the lattice constant increases from 0.8399 to 0.8464 nm; and the microstructure of the films changes from the non-uniform nano-granules to the fine and uniform nano-granules of 50-60 nm in size. The saturation magnetization of the films first increases from 75 emu/g to the maximum 108 emu/g with x increasing from 0 to 0.33 and then decreases monotonously to 5 emu/g with x increasing from 0.33 to 0.99. Meanwhile, the coercive force decreases monotonously from 116 to 13 Oe.