Investigation of Spinel Structure ZnFe1.8La0.2O4 Nanoparticles Synthesized by PEG Assisted Wet Chemical Method

Rare-earth substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles with the chemical formula ZnFe1.8La0.2O4 have been successfully synthesized via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) assisted facile hydrothermal route. The influence of La substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles was investigated using various techniques. The structure, crystallite size, functional group, optical properties, surface morphology and elemental analysis of synthesized sample were analyzed by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The PXRD pattern analysis indicated the formation of a simple cubic spinel structure. Also, using Debye-Scherrer equation, the average crystallite size of the particles was calculated to be about 15.06 nm. FT-IR studies confirmed the tetrahedral and octahedral sites in its cubic spinel structure. UV–visible spectrum of the sample showed absorbance peak in the wavelength range between 200- 800 nm. The optical energy band gap was calculated to be 2.03 eV. Surface morphology analysis by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) shows the formation of ununiformed agglomerated nanoparticles. Elemental composition of synthesized sample was obtained from combined SEM–EDX measurements which confirmed the presence of Zn, Fe, La and O ions.