Structural and dielectric properties of nanocrystalline Nd3+ substituted nickel–zinc ferrites

Abstract

Ferrite samples with general formula Ni1−xZnxNdyFe2−yO4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1; y = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) were synthesized by oxalate co-precipitation technique. The X-ray diffraction study confirms the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice constant of the samples increases with increase in zinc content and obeys Vegard’s law. On Nd3+ substitution lattice constant of the samples slightly increases except zinc ferrite. The frequency dependence of the dielectric constant, dielectric loss and AC conductivity of the samples were determined in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature. The experimental results reveal that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreases where as AC electrical conductivity increases with increase in frequency. The dielectric loss increases with increase in zinc content whereas it decreases with increase in Nd3+ content. There is no appreciable change in permittivity of the samples with increase in Nd3+ content. Permeability of all the samples increases with increase in Nd3+ content. Because of lower dielectric loss, Nd3+ substituted Ni–Zn ferrites are useful in electronic devices.