Phase analysis study of copper ferrite aluminates by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy

CuFe2-xAlxO4 (where x = 0.0-0.6) have been synthesized at 950degreesC, 1000degreesC, 1050degreesC and 1100degreesC using the usual ceramic method. The Mossbauer measurements show reasonable values of magnetic as well as electric hyperfine interactions. At higher sintering temperatures, the spinel ferrite phase is partially dissociated forming delafossite phase in addition to the main matrix. The delafossite phase manifested itself as paramagnetic doublet overlapping the main Mossbauer spectra measured at room temperature. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the presence of the CuFeO2 (delafossite) phase of Cu-Al ferrite. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.