Effect of fabrication method on the structural and the magnetic properties of copper ferrite

Copper ferrites (CuFe2O4) were fabricated by using the self-combustion urea and glycine process (UNP, and GNP), the polymerized complex (PC), the solid-state reaction (SSR), and the molten-salt (MS) methods. The synthesized powders were calcined in static air at different temperature from 773 to 1173 K. The effects of the fabrication method on the microstructural and the magnetic properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results revealed the cubic CuFe2O4 spinel structure for the original powders. The tetragonal CuFe2O4 spinel structure was obtained after calcination. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) showed significant changes in the magnetic properties of the CuFe2O4 system with fabrication method, phase composition, and heat treatment.