A simple route to synthesize new binary cobalt iron cyclotetraphosphate CoFeP4O12 using aqueous and acetone media

Abstract

A new binary cobalt iron cyclotetraphosphate, CoFeP4O12 was synthesized through solid phase reaction using cobalt carbonate, iron metal and phosphoric acid in the presence of water-acetone media with further calcinations at the temperature of 500 °C. The particle size obtained from X-ray line broadening is 65 ± 24 nm for the CoFeP4O12. FTIR spectrum of CoFeP4O12 is assigned based on the P4O124- ion in the structure. The SEM micrograph of the synthesized CoFeP4O12 shows non-uniform microparticle, which is important for specific application. Room temperature magnetization result shows superparamagnetic behavior of the CoFeP4O12 powder, having no hysteresis loop in the range of ±10,000 Oe with the specific magnetization value of 14.243 emu/g. The XRD and FTIR results of the synthesized CoFeP4O12 appear to be very similar to that of M2P4O12 (M = Co and Fe), which indicates the monoclinic phase with space group C2/c. © 2009 Elsevier B.V.