Structure and morphology of spinel MFe2O4 (M=Fe, Co, Ni) nanoparticles chemically synthesized from heterometallic complexes.

We synthesized magnetic spinel ferrites from trimetallic single-source precursors. Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) ferrite nanoparticles in the range of 9-25 nm were synthesized by solvothermal decomposition of trimetallic acetate complex precursors in benzyl ether in the presence of oleic acid and oleylamine, using 1,2-dodecanediol as the reducing agent. For comparison, spinel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by stoichiometric mixtures of metal acetate or acetylacetonate salts.