Physical, Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Zr-Mn-Co Prepared by Co-Precipitation Route

Abstract

Spinel ferrites, which have the general chemical composition MeFe2O4, (Me = Co, Zn, Ni) are of interest due to their electronic, magnetic and optical properties. Nanosized Co-Zr-Mn spinel ferrites with nominal composition CoFe2-2xZrxMnxO4 (0.1≤ x≤0.4) have been prepared by the co-precipitation route. The products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at room temperature, dc electrical resistivity as a function of temperature and dielectric parameters in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 3 MHz are also measured. The lattice constants agree with usual spinel ferrites. The particle size calculated from X-ray data by the Scherrer formula is in the range of 28-30 nm, while the average particle size varies from 15-25 nm obtained from the SEM measurements, X-ray density (Dx), Porosity (P) and bulk density (Dm) for all the samples are calculated. The dc electrical resistivity decreased with the rise in temperature for all the samples, showing a semiconductor like behavior. From the dc electrical resistivity the activation energy and drift mobility are determined. Both the drift mobility and activation energy increase with a rise in x. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac electrical resistivity as a function of frequency are also reported. The low field ac magnetic susceptibility measurement showed that the ferrimagentic transition temperature is in the range of 439±5 K to 658±5 K.