Exploring the structural, morphological, optical, electrical, dielectric and magnetic properties of Co2+ doped Cd0.4Zn0.6-xFe1.9Sm0.1O4 soft ferrites prepared by green synthesis method

Abstract

Soft ferrite nanoparticles with the composition Cd0.4Zn0.6-xCoxFe1.9Sm0.1O4, where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6, were effectively prepared using the green synthesis method. The cubic spinel structure of the produced soft ferrite was verified by X-ray diffraction investigation. For the various values of x, it was found that the average crystallite size and lattice constant varied between 34.50 nm and 27.28 nm and 8.5942 Å and 8.4479 Å, respectively. Images from scanning electron microscopy revealed the occurrence of aggregation and fine grain growth. An energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy investigation was employed to further confirm the ferrites composition. Tetrahedral absorption bands and metal ion-related absorption modes were found in Fourier-transform infrared spectra. As x changed from 0.0 to 0.6, the optical band gap energy (Eg) showed a declining trend from 3.50 eV to 2.57 eV. Additionally, when the quantity of Co2+ increased, the DC electrical resistivity dropped from 5.0475 × 107 Ω cm to 4.3143 × 106 Ω cm. The dielectric characteristics, such as impedance, dielectric losses, and dielectric constant, showed a progressive decline with frequency. Notably, at high frequencies, the specimen Cd0.4Zn0.2Co0.4Fe1.9Sm0.1O4 showed the greatest dielectric constant. The behavior of saturation magnetization was growing, and the estimated squareness values (S.Q., or Mr/Ms < 0.5) represent the ability of magneto-static interaction. Based on these characterization results, the synthesized soft ferrites are suitable for use in transformer cores, telecommunications equipment, and microwave devices.