Structural, magnetic, and nonlinear optical properties of calcium doped Ni-Zn ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation method

Abstract

Ni0.5Zn0.45Ca0.05Fe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation technique, and its structural, spectroscopic, magnetic, linear, and third-order nonlinear optical characteristics were studied using XRD, Raman, and FTIR spectroscopy, VSM, UV–visible DRS spectroscopy, and z scan technique respectively. The XRD results revealed the inverse cubic (Fd3m) spinel structure and an average crystallite size of 36 nm. X-ray density, specific surface area were calculated, and the Rietveld refined parameters almost agree with the estimated structural parameters. FESEM images show spherical morphology and EDX analysis gives the chemical composition of the sample. A bandgap of 1.85 eV is found from the UV–Vis-DRS spectrum. The third-order nonlinear optical parameters such as nonlinear refractive index (n2), nonlinear absorption coefficient (β), third-order susceptibility (χ(3), second-order hyperpolarizability, and optical limiting response were studied with 532 nm 5 ns laser pulses. The synthesized nano compound had significant optical limiting property.