Hydrothermally Synthesized Mg-Based Spinel Nanoferrites: Phase Formation and Study on Magnetic Features and Microwave Characteristics.

Three kinds of magnesium-based spinel nanoferrites with the chemical formulas of MgFe2O4 (Mg ferrite), Mg0.9Mn0.1Fe2O4 (Mg-Mn ferrite), and Mg0.9Mn0.1In0.1Fe1.9O4 (Mg-Mn-In ferrite) were synthesized by hydrothermal route. We report the composition-dependent magnetic parameters and microwave properties of Mg-based ferrite nanoparticles. XRD results revealed that the Mg-based ferrite nanoparticles exhibited a cubic spinel structure and had an average nanocrystallite size in the range of 5.8⁻2.6 nm. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of cubic-spinel phase Mg-based nanoferrites. The room-temperature magnetization measurements indicated that the Mg ferrite nanoparticles had superparamagnetic behavior; whereas the Mg-Mn and Mg-Mn-In ferrite nanoparticles exhibited a paramagnetic nature. The microwave properties of obtained ferrite nanoparticles were studied by alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibility measurement and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It was found that the un-substituted Mg ferrite sample exhibited microwave characteristics better than those of the Mn substituted and Mn-In co-substituted Mg ferrite samples.

Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanofibers by catalytic chemical vapor deposition using non-ferromagnetic metal complexes.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have wide applications in energy storage devices, electrically conducting composites, selective adsorbents, and catalyst supports. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition was carried out in this work to synthesize CNFs at mild temperatures of 700 and 800 degrees C. Non-ferromagnetic metal complexes of La, Nb, and Ti, spread on porous NaX-type zeolite support, were tested as new catalyst. CNFs ranging from 30 to 200 nm in diameter were obtained. Images of transmission electron microscopy showed encapsulated transition-metal nanoparticles by CNFs. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the crystalline structures of La (FCC), Nb (BCC), and Ti (HCP) formed over zeolite. Magnetic hysteresis loops showed superconductivity from the CNF-encapsulated Nb at 2 K. Raman spectra showed that all the samples possessed graphitic and amorphous carbon structures. Based on the SEM images and Raman spectra, the three metals all catalyzed the synthesis of CNFs.