Mossbauer effect studies and X-ray diffraction analysis of cobalt ferrite prepared in powder form by thermal decomposition method

Cobalt ferrite (CoxFe3-xO4) is prepared in powder form by thermal decomposition of iron and cobalt salts and is analysed by X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopic techniques. The variation of Mossbauer parameters, lattice parameters and crystallite size of the products formed with variation in the composition of Fe and Co ratios are studied. The studies confirm the formation of nano-size cobalt ferrite particles with defect structure and it is found to be maximum for the Fe : Co = 60 : 40 ratio of the initial precursor oxides