Nanofabrication of Zinc Ferrite (ZnFe۲O۴) composites for biomedical application

Today, green synthesis method for manufacturing of the nanoparticles (NPs) is the common rout for biomedical application. In this article, ZnFe۲O۴ NPs are fabricated by solgel method in the presence of surfactants. The samples are studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results show hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO and spinel phase of rhombohedral α-Fe۲O۳. The crystallite size of annealed samples are calculated around ۵۷ nm. The SEM images show that the NPs change from rod-shape to nanoparticle clusters of ZnFe۲O۴ by increasing temperature after annealing. The TEM studies show the formation of Fe۲O۳ shell around NPs with a diameter of ۱۰ nm for as-prepared samples. The sharp peaks in FTIR spectrum indicate the stretching vibrations of Fe and Zn groups in the frequencies of ۶۷۵, ۶۰۲ cm-۱ and ۴۷۶ cm-۱. The results of magnetic measurements show coercive field and saturation magnetism around ۲۲۹۸ G and ۳۴ memu/g respectively, for as-prepared samples. The XRF analysis demonstrate the decreasing of the Fe weight percent from ۴۱.۲۸ %Wt. to ۳۹.۶۴ %Wt., by increasing temperature.

Keywords:

Nanorods , Optical properties , VSM , XRD , Zinc ferrite