Raveling out the effect of Pr3+ ions substitution on different properties of nano-sized hexagonal ferrites

Abstract

The development of a new stable phase/type, a rare earth element Pr3+ substitution in Ca2-xPrxFe8O14 (T-type) of hexagonal ferrites with composition (x = 0.0, 0.02, 0.06, 0.1), using the sol–gel auto-combustion method was endeavoured in the current study. The x-ray diffraction analysis proved that all samples possess single-phase structures. All computed structural characteristics varied with Pr3+ substitution. The particles with random shapes and sizes were examined from TEM analysis and particle sizes ranged from 14 to 44 nm. With Pr-contents, the saturation and remanent magnetization increased and the coercivity decreased. All samples have high values of dielectric loss, dielectric constant, and tangent loss at low-frequency values and these high values declined with rising frequency. The peaks in real part of the electric modulus migrated toward the low-frequency region; it was the confirmation that grain boundaries are incredibly active to participate in resistance. The uneven trend in the imaginary part of the electric modulus, which is demised with increasing frequency and peaks, was described by the Sillars model. The band gap (Eg) of the samples reduced linearly from 4.60 to 4.32 eV with the addition of Pr3+ ions, as observed from the UV–visible absorbance spectra. The polarization vs electric field (P-E) loops of synthesized samples displayed lossy behavior and this loosy behavior decreased with Pr-additives. On the basis of properties exhibited by the present synthesized T-type hexagonal ferrites, it can be hoped that these materials are applicable in high-frequency devices, antenna, radar applications, and opto-magneto applications.