Mössbauer and Thermal Studies of Sodium Ferrite Synthesized from Sodium / Potassium Hexakis (Trimethylacetato) Ferrate (III) Complexes

The thermal analysis of sodium and potassium hexakis (trimethylacetato) ferrate (III) complexes has been carried out in flowing air atmosphere from ambient temperature to 500 o C. Various physicochemical techniques i.e. TGA-DTG, IR and M ssbauer spectroscopy etc have been carried out to characterize the intermediate and end products. After dehydrations, the anhydrous complexes undergo decomposition to yield -Fe2O3 and metal oxalate in the temperature range 200-500o C. A subsequent oxidative decomposition of metal oxalates leads to the formation of respective alkali metal carbonate/oxides in successive stages. Finally, nanosized ferrites have been obtained as result of solid state reaction between -Fe2O3 and fraction of MCO/ MCO3. The temperature of ferrite formation is much lower than possible in the conventional ceramic method.