Study of Defect-Induced Chemical Modifications in Spinel Zinc-Ferrites Nanostructures by In-Depth XPS Investigation

Spinel zinc ferrite nanomaterials with exceptional physiochemical properties are potential candidates for various applications in the energy and environmental fields. Their properties can be tailored using several methods to widen their applications. The chemical combustion approach was followed to prepare the spinel zinc ferrite nanomaterials, which were then subjected to thermal treatment at a fixed temperature. Thermal heat treatment at a fixed temperature was used to evaluate the phase and morphological characteristics of the prepared spinel zinc-ferrite nanocomposites. Various techniques were employed to examine the samples, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS and X-ray-induced Auger electron spectroscopy were used to extensively examine the surface characteristics of the zinc-ferrite. To study the actual chemical states of the synthesized spinel zinc ferrite nanomaterials and the defects created during the thermal treatment, an extensive investigation of the kinetic energy of the X-ray-induced Zn L3M45M45 and Fe L3M45M45 was conducted. Finally, a detailed analysis of the Wagner plot using the modified Auger parameter was performed to verify the exact chemical states of Zn and Fe. Thus, the findings of the investigation show that XPS is a promising and powerful technique to study the composition and chemical states of spinel zinc ferrites, providing an understanding of changes in their properties for functional applications.