Microstructural, electrical and magnetic properties of Ni-Zn nanoferrites sintered at high temperature

Abstract

The nanoparticles of Ni1-xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0 and 0.5) were prepared via a citrate precursor method and sintered at 700 °C for 3 h. The structural, electrical and magnetic properties of nickel ferrites before and after substitution of zinc ions were studied using XRD (X-Ray Diffraction method), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer) and two probe method. The morphology of prepared samples was examined using SEM analysis. The Raman spectra confirmed the cubic spinel structures of prepared nanoparticles. The observed crystallite size and porosity of NiFe2O4 (38 nm and 43%) were higher for Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (25 nm and 38%) nanoparticles. Electrical resistivity increased drastically from 3.31 × 108 Ωm to 2.52 × 109 Ωm for NiFe2O4 and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 respectively. Specific saturation magnetization (34 emu/g (x = 0) and 63.65 emu/g (x = 0.5)), coercivity (389 Oe (x = 0) and 115 Oe (x = 0.5)) and remnant magnetization (12.62 emu/g (x = 0) and 12.36 emu/g (x = 0.5)) of ferrite nanoparticles were observed.