Structural, electrical and magnetic studies of nickel–zinc nanoferrites prepared by simplified sol–gel and co-precipitation methods

Abstract

Ferrite nanoparticles, particularly nickel–zinc ferrite nanoparticles, are novel materials for high-frequency applications. Nanoparticles with a composition of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 were prepared by two different processes, namely the co-precipitation and simplified sol-gel methods. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the single-phase spinel structure for the as-prepared samples. Samples were sintered at 555 and 755 °C, after which the structural, electrical and magnetic properties were studied. The crystallite sizes, as determined from XRD data, increased with sintering temperature. The dc electrical resistivity measurements were performed as a function of temperature, with the two-probe method in the temperature range from room temperature to 450 °C. The activation energy and drift mobility were calculated from the temperature-dependent dc electrical resistivity measurements. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent for all the samples were determined as a function of frequency, and the frequency range used was from 20 Hz to 3 MHz at room temperature. The samples prepared using the simplified sol–gel method have lower dielectric constant values compared to those of the samples prepared using the co-precipitation method, and those prepared by the former method are more suitable for high-frequency applications. For the magnetic properties, a vibrating sample magnetometer was used. Saturation magnetization and coercivity increased with an increase in sintering temperature.