Structural, magnetic, electrical and electrochemical properties of NiFe(2)O(4) synthesized by the molten salt technique

Submicron-sized NiFe(2)O(4) particles were synthesized by the molten salt method at 900 degrees C using binary melts of a NaCl and KCl mixture that acts as a flux. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the single phase, high crystalline and cubic structure of NiFe(2)O(4) with a Fd3m space group. The FT-IR spectra reveal the stretching vibration of octahedral complexes of Fe(3+)-O(2-) through the observed band around 552.3 cm(-1). The SEM and TEM image had indicated the formation of submicron-sized NiFe(2)O(4) particles. The ferrimagnetic behavior and high saturation magnetization of 44 emu g(-1) was elucidated by VSM. The maximum electrical conductivity of 1.42 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) was observed at 873 K. The NiFe(2)O(4) showed a pseudocapacitive property in 1 M of a LiClO(4) electrolyte and exhibited a specific capacitance of 18.5 Fg(-1) at 10 mV s(-1). The hydrogen evolution reaction was also studied for NiFe(2)O(4) in 1 M of a H(2)SO(4) solution. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.