Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of spinel ferrite (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe2O4 from low nickel matte

Abstract Spinel ferrite (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe 2 O 4 was synthesized from the low nickel matte by using a co-precipitation-calcination method for the first time. The influences of the added amount of NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O, calcination temperature and time on the structure and magnetic properties of the as-prepared ferrites were studied in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It is indicated that pure (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe 2 O 4 with cubic phase could be obtained under the experimental conditions (NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O added amount of 3.0: 100 g mL −1 , calcination temperature from 800 to 1000 °C and calcination time from 1 to 3 h). With increasing calcination temperature and time, saturation magnetization (M S ) of the synthesized (Ni, Cu, Co)Fe 2 O 4 increased and the coercivity (H C ) decreased. Under the optimum conditions (i.e. NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O added amount of 3.0: 100 g mL −1 , 1000 °C, 3 h), the M S and H C values of the product were approximately 46.1 emu g −1 and 51.0 Oe, respectively, which were competitive to those of other nickel ferrites synthesized from pure chemical reagents. This method explores a novel pathway for efficient and comprehensive utilization of the low nickel matte.