Local Structure Analysis of ZnFe2O4 by Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS)

The unusually high magnetization of co-precipitated zinc ferrite has been interpreted as a consequence of magnetic clusters that are supposed to be formed by AB interaction of Fe ions in octahedral and tetrahedral sites. In this paper, the local structure around Fe and Zn atoms is discussed by measuring with the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS). The structure around Zn atom was found to differ between zinc ferrite by ceramic and co-precipitation technique. The position of the peak referring to the second nearest neighbor of Zn atom was shorter in the case of co-precipitated zinc ferrite. This is believed due to the possible occupation of the Zn atoms in the octahedral sites. Further, the intensity of the peak is weak compared to the one produced by ceramic method. This has been thought to be due to the deformation induced by the occupation of zinc ions in the octahedral sites causing a decrease in the area of structural periodicity in the short range order.