Electrochemical Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 Thin Film from Aqueous Sulfate Bath

Abstract

Nanocrystalline nickel-zinc ferrites Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 thin films have been synthesized via the electrodeposition-anodization from the aqueous sulfate bath. The electrodeposited (Ni-Zn)Fe 2 alloy was anodized in aqueous 1 M KOH solution to form the corresponding hydroxides which annealed at different temperatures ranging from 800 to 1000 ∘ C for various periods from 1 to 4 h, to get the required ferrite. SEM micrograph of the formed ferrite particles, annealed at 1000 ∘ C for 4 h appeared as the octahedral-like structure. A good saturation magnetization of 28.2 emu/g was achieved for Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 thin film produced after the aforementioned conditions. The kinetic studies of the crystallization of Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 films appeared to be first-order reaction and the activation energy was found to be 10.5 k Joule/mole.