Low temperature rapid sol–gel auto-combustion synthesis and structural, morphological and magnetic study of nickel substituted cobalt nano ferrites

Abstract

ABSTRACT The nickel substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel auto-combustion method. The single cubic spinel structure formation was confirmed from X-ray diffraction and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy study. The effect of lattice strain on crystalline size was studied using Williamson–Hall and the size-strain plot method. A microstructural study was performed using high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were studied at room temperature using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The saturation magnetization obtained for pure cobalt nano ferrite was 79.66 emu/g comparable with the value for the bulk sample. The anisotropic constant and anisotropy field were found to be erg/cm3 and 88.66 kOe respectively for pure cobalt ferrite. The high value of saturation magnetization, anisotropic constant and anisotropy field of cobalt ferrite are important parameters for the application of prepared samples in data recording devices.