Nanocrystalline of ZnAl2O4 spinel was synthesized by employing the microwave combustion method.
Different new spinel compositions of formula Zn1-xFexAl2O4, (0.0
x
1.0) were prepared by substitution
of Zn ions with Fe ions. The as-synthesized resultant material ZnAl2O4 with spinel structure as well as
Zn1-xFexAl2O4 compositions were characterized by Energy Dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction.
Morphology and particle size evaluation of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy images. The optical absorption spectra and the magnetization were measured at room
temperature for each Fe ratio. The substitution effect of Fe ions on the optical and magnetic properties of
the original spinel was studied. The optical absorbance showed that the optical band gap decreased with
increasing Fe ratio.