Glycol-assisted autocombustion synthesis of spinel ferrite CoFe2O4 nanoparticles: magnetic and electrochemical performances

Uniform spinel ferrite CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with average diameter of 40 nm were fabricated by a novel glycol-assisted autocombustion method. The as-prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectrum. The room temperature magnetic property of the nanoparticles was examined, indicating the presence of an ordered magnetic structure in the spinel system. The electrochemical tests show that the as-prepared nanoparticles exhibits excellent electrochemical cycleability. The simple synthetic route can be applied to as a general method for the fabrication of other functional nanomaterials.