Synthesis and electrophoretic deposition of magnetic nickel ferrite nanoparticles

Powders with particle size ∼5–15 nm of nickel ferrite have been synthesized chemically from aqueous precursor solutions. From the structural and magnetic properties, it is determined that the synthetic material possesses high NiFe2O4 phase purity and controllable particle size. The optimum calcination temperature is found to be ∼500 °C, at which the NiFe2O4 particles exhibit a saturation magnetization of 2800 G, and a particle size of about 10 nm. The particles are then deposited onto silicon substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. The Ni ferrite particles are suspended in a medium of isopropyl alcohol with magnesium nitrate and lanthanum nitrate salts as charging agents. The transportation of particles to the substrate surface is assisted by applied electric field and particles adhere to the substrate surface by a glycerol based surfactant. The magnetic response of the EPD film has been investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements.