Preparation of Mg/Fe spinel ferrite nanoparticles from Mg/Fe-LDH microcrystallites under mild conditions

Abstract Mg/Fe spinel ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by aging Mg 2+ /Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ -LDH (layered double hydroxides) suspension at temperature below 100 °C. The yield of Mg/Fe spinel ferrite nanoparticles was dependent on the aging temperature and the molar ratio of ferrous ions in the LDH precursors. It was found that the majority of iron atoms was assembled into the lattice of spinel ferrite when the LDH precursors were aged at 95 °C for 18 h, and the formation of Mg/Fe spinel ferrite was favored with a higher molar ratio of ferrous ion in the LDH precursors. To the best knowledge of us, it is the first report on preparation of spinel ferrite under such a mild condition of below 100 °C from Mg 2+ /Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ -LDH microcrystallites.