Micronization of MgFe₂ O₄ particles doped with Si

The effect of Si addition was studied for the purpose of the improvement of microstructure of MgFe₂O₄ particles prepared from a malic acid complex. There were no traces of any impurity phase in Si-doped and pure MgFe₂O₄ powders both in XRD measurements. When Si atoms were doped to MgFe₂O₄ , crystallite growth of MgFe₂O₄ was remarkably suppressed, and the lattice volume increased up to 10 mol% Si monotonously. SEM observations revealed that MgFe₂O₄ powders show a granulation shape such as the aragonite and each particle tightly interconnected each other, whereas smaller particles compared with pure MgFe₂O₄ were observed for Si-doped MgFe₂O₄ . Also, it was found that the amount of mesopore increases by Si doping. Further, XPS and XAS measurements suggested that Si atoms exist in MgFe₂O₄ crystal.