Coordination compounds containing urea as precursors for oxides—A new route of obtaining nanosized CoFe2O4

Pure CoFe2O4 particles with an average size in the range 38–57 Å and a surface area of 60–67 m2 g−1 have been produced at a low temperature (450 °C) through thermal decomposition of polynuclear coordination compounds containing urea as ligand, with different metal:ligand molar ratios (Fe3+:Co2+:urea =2:1:6 and 2:1:8), synthesized by two routes (a precipative and a solid state one).