Thermal investigations of nickel–zinc ferrites formation from malate coordination compounds

Nickel–zinc ferrites have been synthesized via thermal decomposition of polynuclear coordination compounds containing as ligand the anion of malic acid, namely (NH₄)Fe₂NixZn_1–x(C₄H₄O₅)(OH)₃]·nH₂O (x =0.25, 0.5 and 0.75, n=3 and 5). A comparison between the thermal behaviour of the studied polynuclear coordination compounds is inferred. Fe₂NixZn_1–xO₄ (n=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) ferrites with mean particle sizes of 65–85 Å and free from other phases are formed after a heating treatment of only one hour at 500°C.