Synthesis of crystalline zinc ferrite near room temperature

Abstract

Well crystallized zinc ferrite powder has been synthesized from a mixed-metal solution of ZnCl₂ and FeCl₂ near room temperature. A single phase of zinc ferrite was formed through the so-called green-rust structure containing Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, OH^– and Cl^– at a temperature range of 30–60 °C, after aging for more than 2 h. Below 25 °C, the greenrust phase transformed to an amorphous phase by aging, which can be crystallized to spinel by heating above 400 °C.