Enhancement in dielectric and magnetic properties of Ni–Zn ferrites prepared by sol–gel method

Abstract

Due to its high permeability, Mn–Zn ferrite is the material of choice for high frequency applications up to a few MHz. At increased operational frequency, Ni–Zn ferrites are more suitable than Mn–Zn ferrites due to their low eddy current losses and low dielectric losses. To combine all these properties and to increase the operational frequency up to GHz, we have prepared Ni0.5Zn0.5CrxMn0.5−xFe1.5O4 (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5), with a simplified sol gel method. Prepared samples show high saturation magnetization, low coercivity, and low dielectric loss. The dielectric loss in the frequency range 1MHz to 1.3GHz remained almost constant as the Cr content was increased in the samples. The crystallite size and lattice parameters of these samples were calculated from X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data analysis. The crystallite size for each sample was calculated using the Scherrer formula considering the most intense peak (311) and the results were compared with the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of these samples. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the single phase spinel structure for these samples. Wayne Kerr Precession Component Analyzer 6440B and Agilent E4991 Impedance Analyzer were used to study the dielectric constant (ε′) and the dielectric loss tangent (tanδ) of these samples as a function of frequency in the frequency range 100Hz to 1MHz and 1MHz to 1.29GHz respectively. Quantum design PPMS model 6700 was used to study the magnetic properties of these samples.