Fine Tuning ThePhysical Properties (Structural And Magnetic) Of Sol-Gel Derived Cobalt Ferrite (CoFe2O4)Using Calcination.

Spinel Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) is made via a sol-gel technique based on citrate precursors and further calcined at 600, 700, and 800℃ for two hours. Purity of materials with spinel crystal symmetry indexed to Fd3m space group is confirmed by the X-ray diffraction pattern. To determine the size of crystallites and the lattice strains present in samples, the Williamson-Hall plot is analysed. The lattice parameters  exhibits observable increase as a result of induced lattice strain, with sample calcined at 800℃ having maximum value. WH analysis  is backed by SEM morphological images. The FTIR spectrum and the XRD data are also in agreement. Samples' magnetic properties range from magnetization values of 47.62 to 71.11 emu/g and retentivity values of 21.19 to 37.16 emu/g.The increased value of coercivity from 454 to 1467 Gauss due to controlled calcination is interesting. Consequently, the impact of calcination temperature on CoFe2O4 for improvement of its physical properties is explored in this paper.