Zn+2 occupation site preference in ZnxFe3-xO4 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia determined by Neutron Diffraction

J. LOHR; D. TOBIA; T. TORRES-MOLINA; E. LIMA JR.; L.M. RODRÍGUEZ; G. J. CUELLO; I. PUENTE-ORENCH; M. PARDO-SAINZ; M. AGUIRRE; G. GOYA; J. CAMPO; G. AURELIO

Conferencia; International Conference on Neutron Scattering; 2022

In this work, we present a study of magnetic nanoparticles in the compositional region between normal spinel ZnFe2O4 and inverse spinel Fe3O4. A change in Zn2+ site occupation, a non-magnetic ion, produces a change in the magnetic saturation due to the occupation of the magnetic ions. It is reported that Zn2+ could partial occupy the octahedral site in some synthesis conditions. Therefore, it is interesting to know the correlations between synthesis methods and inversion degree. With this aim, we prepare ZnxFe3-xO4 by different methods: thermal decomposition, co-precipitation and co-precipitation followed by ball milling. We analyse the magnetic, crystallographic effect due to different synthesis process. We use neutron diffraction data to determine the cation site occupation and to study the correlation with the synthesis method. Hyperthermia measurements were carried out and show different values of specific absorption rate that depend on the synthesis process.