LAUSR

Abstract Magnetic nanoparticles with a general formula of MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg, Co, Ca) have attracted much attention owing to their biocompatibility, chemical stability under physiological conditions and superparamagnetic properties. In this paper, with the chloride as the primary materials and NaOH as precipitating agent, Mg–Zn ferrite nanoparticles were prepared and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and the heat analysis system. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the structure of these nanoparticles was spinel, and the Zn concentration and calcination temperature had a significant influence on the degree of crystallinity. The heating capacity first increased and then decreased with increasing of zinc content, while the calcination temperature increased the heating capacity generally. The AC magnetic-filed-induced heating characteristics of Mg0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4 indicated that the magnetic nanoparticles increased from the room temperature up to 43 °C in a time less than 3 min, and remained stable in 43–50 °C for 57 min.