Study the magnetic and dielectric properties of Sn substituted nickel–cobalt ferrite synthesized by auto combustion method

Abstract

Nickel–cobalt ferrites with the stoichiometry of Ni0.4Co0.6–xSnxFe2O4 (where, x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10) have been synthesized by the auto combustion method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern discloses a single-phase spinel structure, and the crystallite sizes of the nanoparticles are estimated at about 12–28 nm. The diffraction peak shifts towards the lesser angle and the lattice parameter slightly improves with the Sn substitution. The surface morphology and elemental composition are examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively. At room temperature, the bulk density, grain size, and coercivity are increased with the Sn substitution. The hysteresis loops of this sintered specimen display an improved magnetic behavior at ambient temperature. The saturation magnetization increases initially and reaches to the maximum at x = 0.02 (78.05 emu/g) then decreases with higher Sn substitution. All the sintered species retain in the multi magnetic domain. Prepared samples demonstrate a slight reduction both in dielectric constant (e׳) and loss tangent (tanδ) with an increment of the Sn substitution. The proposed work is expected to open the possible emersion of the ferrite in the high-frequency applications.