Structural, dielectric and magnetic characteristics of Zr–Ni substitution on Barium X-type hexagonal ferrites synthesized through sol–gel autocombustion method

Abstract

Zr–Ni substituted barium hexaferrites with chemical compositions Ba2Co2Fe28-2xZrxNixO46 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) are fabricated through sol–gel autocombustion approach. The composites characteristics before and after substitution are examined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM) and dielectric measurements techniques. The XRD spectrum confirmed the formation of single phase X-type ferrites with crystallinity lying in the range of 24.57–29.11 nm. FTIR results revealed the specific absorption bands in the range of 300–900 cm−1. SEM micrographs demonstrate platelet shape grains along some agglomeration. The M–H loops analysis deduce about saturation magnetization (Ms), retentivity (Mr), coercivity (Hc) and squareness ratio (Mr/Ms), and these results show ferrimagnetic nature of prepared particles. The magnetic dilution in magnetic moment of molecules cause reduction in Mr and Ms. Reduction in coercivity is related to magnetocrystalline anisotropy. After Zr–Ni substitution, a significant decrease is observed in remanance, saturation magnetization and coercivity. The dielectric parameters are determined in 20 Hz–1 MHz frequency range. The dielectric parameters are studied on the basis of frequency change. The behavior of dielectric parameters analyzed on the basis of Wagner and Koop’s phenomenological theory.