Modulation in magnetic exchange interaction, core shell structure and Hopkinson’s peak with chromium substitution into Ni0.75Co0.25Fe2O4 nano particles

Abstract

The ever growing applications and ever evolving challenges of magnetic nano particles has been motivating the researchers from various disciplines towards this area of magnetic nano particles. Cation substitutional effect on the magnetic structure of the nanoparticles forms a crucial aspect in their applications. Here the environmentally benign auto combustion method was employed to synthesize chromium substituted nickel cobalt ferrite (Ni0.75Co0.25Fe2-xCrxO4; x = 0, 0.10, 0.15) nano particles, from aqueous metal nitrate solutions. Chromium substitution has shown its effect on the structural, magnetic and electrical properties of Ni0.75Co0.25Fe2O4. Structural and phase analysis of the prepared samples show increased phase purity of ferrite sample with increasing Cr substitution. The TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) image confirms the nano size of the particles, EDS (Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) has supported the stoichiometry of the prepared samples and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic) analysis confirms the spinel structure and also suggests cation redistributions with chromium substitution. VSM (Vibrational Sample Magnetometer) is used to study the magnetic properties through magnetic hysteresis (M−H) loop and magnetic Hopkinson effect. All samples show hysteresis and show reduction in magnetic properties with increase in chromium content. The thermo magnetic study shows Hopkinson peak(s) in the magnetization vs. temperature (M−T) graph and also shows variation in the nature of Hopkinson peak with chromium substitution. Possible reasons for the changes in the nature of the peak are discussed.