Synthesis and ferromagnetic property of new binary copper iron pyrophosphate CuFeP2O7

The pyrophosphate of CuFeP2O7 was synthesized through one step-thermal synthesis at 500 °C using the mixing of copper carbonate, iron metals and phosphoric acid. FTIR and XRD results indicate the dominant feature of pyrophosphate (P2O7^4-) anion and a pure monoclinic phase with space group C2h⁶ (Z = 4), respectively. The crystallite size of 25 ± 9 nm for the CuFeP2O7 was estimated by X-ray line broadening. Room temperature magnetization result shows ferromagnetic behavior of the CuFeP2O7 powder, having hysteresis loop in the range of ± 10,000 Oe with the specific magnetization value of 1.57 emu g^{- 1}. This property is important for specific application and is presented for the first time. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.