Effect of γ-rays irradiation on structural and magnetic properties of Cd–Mn nanoferrites synthesized via sol-gel auto-combustion method

Abstract

Manganese-cadmium nanoferrites with the general formula Mn1-xCdxFe2O4 (x = 0.2, 0.5, 0.8) were synthesized via sol-gel combustion method at 1000 °C. Non-magnetic Cd2+ ion was conducted to substitute manganese spinel ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles. To study the radiation effect on the structural and magnetic properties, some nanoferrite samples were γ-rays irradiated with doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 700 and 1000 kGy. The obtained FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of a single-phase spinel structure at tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The existence of a single-phase structure in the prepared samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The crystallite size was found to be within the range 50–140 nm. The influence of γ-rays irradiation and the Cd2+ and Mn2+ ions substitution on the microstructure, and magnetic properties were investigated for some nanoferrite samples with the general formula Mn1-xCdxFe2O4, (x = 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8). The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to study the hysteresis curves of unirradiated and irradiated Mn0.8 Cd0.2Fe2O4 sample at different doses. The obtained results showed that the remnant and saturation magnetization decrease with increasing Cd2+ ion concentration and γ-rays irradiation dose.