Structural, Magnetic, and Microwave Properties of SrFe12−x (Ni0.5Co0.5Sn) x/2O19 Particles Synthesized by Sol–Gel Combustion Method

Abstract

This study is intended to evaluate the structural, magnetic, and microwave properties of Ni-Co-Sn-doped strontium hexaferrite SrFe12−x (Ni0.5Co0.5Sn) x/2 O19 particles with x = 0 to 2.5 synthesized by a sol–gel combustion method. These particles were evaluated to characterize the structural, magnetic, and reflection loss properties of prepared samples by use of x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and vector network analyzer. The XRD results confirmed the presence of strontium ferrite phase with magnetoplumbite structure in all synthesized samples. The results of FTIR analysis indicated the formation of functional groups such as metal-oxygen (Sr-O and Fe-O) and carboxylic groups during the sol–gel process. In addition, FE-SEM micrographs indicated that submicron particles with different morphologies such as spherical, pyramidal, irregular, and hexagonal platelet shapes appeared in the structure. According to hysteresis loops, magnetization and coercivity decreased due to occupation of Ni-Co-Sn cations at low levels of substitutions. The microwave absorption characteristics of this ferrite were investigated in the 8 GHz to 12 GHz frequency range. The sample with 80 wt.% ferrite content showed a maximum reflection loss of −29 dB at 9.6 GHz with 4 GHz bandwidth through the entire frequency range of 8 GHz to 12 GHz for absorber thickness of 1.5 mm. Based on microwave measurements of reflectivity, this material with the expressed chemical composition could be proposed as a good choice for electromagnetic compatibility and other practical applications such as microwave absorption at high frequencies.