Doping effect of Mn 2+ on the magnetic behavior in Ni–Zn ferrite nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion

Abstract

The ferrite samples of a chemical formula Ni 0.5− x Mn x Zn 0.5Fe 2O 4 (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion method. The synthesized samples were annealed at 600 °C for 4 h. An analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns reveals the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter increases linearly with increase in Mn content x. An initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease in saturation magnetization with increase in Mn content is observed showing inverse trend of coercivity ( H c). Curie temperature decreases with increase in Mn content x. The initial permeability is observed to increase with increase in Mn content up to x=0.3 followed by a decrease, the maximum value being 362. Possible explanation for the observed structural, magnetic, and changes of permeability behavior with various Mn content are discussed.