Effect of zinc substitution on structural and elastic properties of cobalt ferrite

Abstract

Polycrystalline ferrites with general formula Co 1− x Zn x Fe 2O 4 ( x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) were prepared by solid-state reaction technique. The structure and morphology of obtained products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The analysis of XRD pattern revealed the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structure. Lattice constant increases with increase in zinc content, obeying Vegard's law. Elastic properties such as longitudinal velocity ( V l), transverse velocities ( V t), Poisson's ratio ( σ) and Debye temperature ( θ D) have been studied. In the present work the elastic properties decreases with zinc composition x whereas Poisson's ratios almost remain constant. Debye temperature calculated from elastic data decreases with Zn substitution. A probable explanation has been proposed to explain the effect of zinc substitution on structural and elastic properties of cobalt ferrite.