Formation of nanosized zinc ferrite spinels was studied
from iron- and zinc oxide powders and corresponding
nitrate solutions, respectively in a radiofrequency thermal
plasma reactor. From the viewpoint of applications,
the research was motivated by the potential use of these
materials in advanced magnetic devices on the one
hand, and by their biomedical applications such as drug
carriers or agents for cancer treatment by hyperthermia
on the other. In this work effects of synthesis conditions
on properties of products were studied in details. The
products were characterised for chemical composition,
phase conditions, particle size distribution, morphologies
and saturation magnetisation. Most products exhibited
ferrimagnetic behaviour. Correlations among domain-
and particle sizes were also investigated. Conditions
for the synthesis of nanosized, inverse zinc ferrites
of high saturation magnetisation were established. It
was proved that in thermal plasma conditions normal
and inverse ferrites could be produced in a single step
process
