Synthesis of mesoporous magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) using porous silica templates

Siliceous templates of KIT6 with three dimensional Ia3d symmetry were synthesized hydrothermally using three block copolymer (pluronic P123) as surfactant. The samples were characterized by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), SAXRD (Small-Angle X-Ray Diffraction), BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller), BJH (Barrett–Joyner–Halenda), and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). The template synthesized at 130 °С (KIT130) had a large pore diameter (8 nm) and a considerable pore volume (1.179 cm3 g−1). Since formation of mesoporous MgFe2O4 proved to be impossible using single the step nanocasting method, a combination of co-precipitation and nanocasting were employed. Mesoporous magnesium ferrite was synthesized through calcining the filled templates at 900 °С and, after the removal of templates, the samples were characterized by XRD, SAXRD, BET, and VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer). The mesoporous magnesium ferrite showed pore diameters of 3 and 9 nm, a pore volume of 0.3 cm3 g−1, and a high specific surface area of 100.27 m2 g−1. Room temperature magnetization of mesoporous magnesium ferrite showed a superparamagnetic behavior.