Structural, magnetic properties, and induction heating behavior studies of cobalt ferrite nanopowders synthesized using modified co-precipitation method

Nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite CoFe₂O₄ powders have been successfully synthesized via modified co-precipitation at low temperature. Obviously, well crystalline CoFe₂O₄ phase was obtained from the precipitated precursors at pH 10 using 5 M NaOH as a base thermally treated at 80°C for 1 h in aqueous medium in the absence and the presence of 1000 ppm cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as cationic and anionic surfactants, respectively. Meanwhile, the spinel ferrite was observed with the similar conditions using ethylene glycol as an organic solvent. The microstructures of the formed powders exhibited nanospheres like structure with narrow size distribution from 6 to 10 nm. The magnetic properties of the formed cobalt ferrite powders strongly depend on the synthesis conditions. For instance, the highest saturation magnetization (M_s = 36.2 emu/g) was achieved in the aqueous medium, whereas the lowest saturation magnetization (M_s = 16.2 emu/g) was accomplished in the ethylene glycol medium. Indeed, heating properties of the CoFe₂O₄ samples in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) at 160 kHz were estimated. Of note, it is clear that the specific heat rate SAR values were in the range from 104.5 to 302.0 W/g at different synthesis conditions, making co-ferrite appropriate for hyperthermia treatment of cancer.