Ni0.11ZnxCo0.03Fe2.86-xO4 spinet ferrite films with x = 0.00, 0.23, 0.34, 0.43 and 0.51 were prepared on Ag-coated glass substrates from nitrate and dimethylamine borane solution at 80 degrees C. The Ni0.11ZnxCo0.03Fe2.86-xO4 ferrite films are singe-phased spinet ferrite. With the Zn content x increasing from 0 to 0.51, the lattice constant of the ferrite films increases from 0.8383 to 0.8425 nm. The Ni0.11Zn0.51Co0.03Fe2.35O4 film is about 500 nm thick and composed of uniform equiaxed granules of about 40-50 nm. The Raman spectrum analysis indicates that the Zn2+ ions occupy the A sites. Saturation magnetization increases with x increasing from 0 to 0.35, reaches a maximum value of 460 kA/m at x = 0.35, and then decreases with further increase of x. Coercivity decreases monotonically from 12.3 to 1.7 kA/m with x increasing from 0 to 0.51. The change in magnetic properties may be explained by the decrease of A-B interactions and the anisotropy constant due to the incorporation of nonmagnetic Zn2+ ions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.