Structural, magnetic and electrochemical studies on Zn$_x$Mg$_{1-x}$Fe$_2$O$_4$ nanoparticles prepared via solution combustion method

Zinc-manganese ferrite nanoparticles, denoted as Zn$_x$Mg$_{1-x}$Fe$_2$O$_4$ where $x$ ranges from 0 to 1, were synthesized via solution combustion employing glycine as the organic fuel at a stoichiometric redox ratio. The resultant compositions underwent comprehensive characterization utilizing scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffractometry. Magnetic and electrochemical properties were meticulously examined using a vibrating magnetometer and cyclic voltmeter, respectively. Analysis revealed an average particle size ranging from 24.9 to 30.8 nm across all synthesized samples, with degrees of crystallinity reaching 93–96%. Notably, variations in the magnetic behavior were observed depending on the magnesium content within the samples. The highest magnetic parameters were recorded for Zn$_{0.4}$Mg$_{0.6}$Fe$_2$O$_4$ (M$_s$ = 27.78 emu/g, M$_r$ = 3.77 emu/g, and H$_c$ = 21.4 Oe). Furthermore, the electrochemical capacity of the synthesized powders exhibited dependency on the incorporation of magnesium cations into the crystal lattice. These findings underscore the significance of magnesium content in modulating the magnetic and electrochemical properties of Zn$_x$Mg$_{1-x}$Fe$_2$O$_4$ nanoparticles synthesized via solution combustion.