Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline MgFe2O4 for Multifaceted Applications

Abstract

A polycrystalline MgFe₂O₄ ferrite sample was successfully synthesized using the sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction measurements and analysis confirmed the single phase formation of a nanocrystalline cubic spinel structure without impurity phases. The lattice parameters, refined via the Rietveld method, was determined to be 8.38 Å, and the crystallite size was found to be approximately 12nm using the Debye-Scherrer method. FTIR measurement revealed a prominent peak at 3710 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the O–H vibrational mode, alongside a weak shoulder at 3200–3270 cm⁻¹ attributed to O–H elongating vibrations of adsorbed H₂O molecules. A weak peak at 2364 cm⁻¹ was assigned to nitrate groups. These results confirm the successful synthesis and nanoscale characterization of MgFe₂O₄ with distinct structural and vibrational properties.