Mechanochemical Synthesis of Zinc Ferrite, $ZnFe_2O_4$

Mechanochemical synthesis of zinc ferrite, $ZnFe_2O_4$, was attempted from a powder mixture of iron (III) oxide, alpha-$Fe_2O_3$ and zinc (II) oxide, ZnO. Nanocrystalline zinc ferrite, $ZnFe_2O_4$ powders were successfully synthesized only bymilling for 30 hours. Evidence of the $ZnFe_2O_4$ formation was absent for the powders milled for 10 and 20 hours; the milling lowered the crystallinity of the starting materials. Heating after milling enhanced the formation of $ZnFe_2O_4$, crystal growth of $ZnFe_2O_4$ and the unreacted starting materials. The unreacted starting materials decreased their amounts by heating at higher temperatures.