Thermal decomposition of freeze-dried complex acetates of iron, nickel and zinc, and structural characterization of products

Abstract Heteronuclear complex acetates with the stoichiometry of metal ions Ni 1−x II Zn x II Fe 2 III are prepared by freeze-drying of solutions of metal acetates with appropriate compositions. The amorphous powders are decomposed on heating, releasing H 2 O, acetic acid, acetone and CO 2 . Depending on the conditions of decomposition, single-phase ferrites with spinel structure or mixtures of ferrites and simple oxides are formed as crystalline products. The phase formation is followed with the help of X-ray powder diffractometry and Mossbauer spectroscopy.