Comparative study of Nd3+, Cr3+-doped Mg-Zn nanoferrites

Abstract

The present manuscript portrays, the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of pristine, Neodymium (Nd3+), and Chromium (Cr3+) doped Mg-Zn nanoparticles [Mg0.9 Zn0.1MxFe2-xO4 NPs, where M = 0, Nd3+, and Cr3+] synthesized by autocombustion method. Structural characterization revealed face-centred cubic crystallinity of all the compositions with space group Fd3¯m. Even though Nd and Cr are members of the rare earth and transition metal families, the differences in their ionic radii cause variations in structural properties of Mg-Mn. The dielectric properties showed that AC conductivity increases with increasing frequency for all the compositions but was maximum for Nd3+ doped sample as compared to pristine and Cr3+ doped Mg-Zn nanoparticles. Magnetic hysteresis loop displayed superparagmagnetic behavior with negligible coercivity and retentivity but the value of saturation magnetization was maximum for Nd3+ doped Mg-Mn nanoparticles, and started decreasing with introduction of Cr3+ ions in the host Mg-Mn ferrites lattice framework, depicting improved magnetic properties due to doping of rare earth ions as compared to transition metal ion substitution. Changes in crystallite size of the host Mg-Zn crystal network, by doping rare earth ions as compared to transition metal ion induces an increment in electrical conductivity, and magnetic properties.