The effect of calcination temperature on the formation and magnetic properties of ZnMn2O4 spinel

Abstract

The spinel based on transition-metal oxides has a typical composition of AB2O4. In this study, the ZnMn2O4 spinel was synthesized using a powder metallurgy technique. The Zn and Mn metallic powders with an atomic ratio of 1:2 were mechanically alloyed for 3 hours in aqueous solution. The mixed powder was then calcined in a muffle furnace at elevated temperature of 400, 500 and 600 °C. The X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) was used to evaluate the formation of a ZnMn2O4 spinel structure. The magnetic properties of the sample at varying calcination temperatures were characterized by a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The results show that the fraction of ZnMn2O4 spinel formation increases with the increase of calcination temperature. The calcination temperature also affects the magnetic properties of the samples.