Spinel ferrite nanocrystals are regarded as one of the most important inorganic nanomaterials because of their electronic, optical, electrical, magnetic, and catalytic properties. These properties are dependent on the chemical composition and microstructural characteristics in which the particle size and shape might be controlled in the fabrication processes. The preparation of spinel ferrite nanocrystals through different routes has become an essential in research and development. But, the most commonly applied synthesis methods are difficult to employ on a large scale because of their complicated procedures, high reaction temperatures, long reaction times, toxic reagents and by-products, and their potential harm to the environment. In this thesis a simple thermal treatment method is described for synthesis of spinel ferrite MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co, Mn, Zn, or their binary metal) nanoparticles. In this method, an aqueous solution of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was prepared by dissolving the polymer in deionized water at 343 K before adding iron nitrate and respective metal nitrates and constantly stirring at 353 K for 2 h. The dissolved solution was heated until dried at 353 K for 24 h on a glass Petri dish. The solid and orange coloured transparent remains were crushed and ground in a mortar to form powder before calcinations at temperatures from 623 to 923 K for 3 h to decompose organic matters and crystallized the ferrite nanparticles.
