Structural, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of Co1-xLixFe2O4 synthesized by cathode materials of spent Li-ion batteries

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of substituting Li+ for Co2+ at the B sites of the spinel lattice on the structural, magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of cobalt ferrites. The Li+ substituted cobalt ferrites, Co1-xLixFe2O4, with x varying from 0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments, were synthesized with a sol-gel auto-combustion method using the cathode materials of spent Li-ion batteries. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the Co1-xLixFe2O4 nanopowders had a single-phase spinel structure and the lattice parameters decreased with increasing Li+ content, which can be proved by slight shifts towards higher diffraction angle values of the (311) peak. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the fractured inner surface of the sintered cylindrical rods and the increased porosity resulted in a decreased magnetostriction. The oxidation states of Co and Fe in the cobalt ferrite samples were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High resolution transmission electron microscopy micrographs showed that most particles were roughly spherical and with sizes of 25–35 nm. Li+ substitution had a strong effect on the saturation magnetization and coercivity, which were characterized with a vibrating sample magnetometer. The Curie temperature was reduced due to the decrease in magnetic cations and the weakening of the exchange interactions. The magnetostrictive properties were influenced by the incorporation of Li+ at the B sites of the spinel structure and correlated with the changes in porosity, magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the cation distribution.