Abstract
Nano-crystalline samples of cerium substituted cobalt ferrites with chemical formula CoCe x Fe2−x O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) were prepared using the citrate auto-combustion method. The prepared ferrites were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD patterns and FTIR spectra confirm that the prepared samples reveal the formation of a single-phase spinel structure. TEM micrographs showed that the particles are made up of spherical and elongated nano-metric shapes. A limitation of the size of nanoparticles is observed as the Ce3+ concentration increases. VSM measurements showed that the coercivity H c and magnetization values M s are strongly dependent on Ce3+ content and particle size. The values of H c lie in the range of (411–1600 G), which suggest that these samples are convenient for different applications. The alternating current electrical conductivity (σ), dielectric permittivities (ɛ′, ɛ″), and dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) were studied at different ranges of frequency and temperature. The relation of conductivity with temperature revealed a semiconductor to semi-metallic behavior as cerium concentration increases. The variation in (tan δ) with frequency at different temperature shows abnormal behavior with more than one relaxation peak. The conduction mechanism used in the present study has been discussed in the light of cation–anion–cation interactions over the octahedral B-site.
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