Tailoring magnetic properties through variation of cations distribution in Zn-Cu ferrite nanoparticles prepared by exploding wire technique

Abstract

In this paper, Zinc-Copper ferrite nanoparticles, synthesized via a novel exploding wire technique. The Fe3+ cation distribution of tetrahedral and octahedral sites of prepared nanoparticles is estimated through intensity analysis of powder X-ray diffraction. The preference of Zn2+ and Cu2+ towards tetrahedral and octahedral sub-lattices and their influence on hyperfine magnetic lines are determined through Mössbauer spectroscopy. The cation distributions of Fe3+ at tetrahedral and octahedral sites of Fe2O3 powder used as precursor for the synthesis of samples are estimated through sextet’s areas. The existence of Fe3+ oxidation state Zn-rich Zn0.7Cu0.3Fe2O4 and Cu-rich Zn0.3Cu0.7Fe2O4 nanoparticles is ascertained through Mössbauer and electron spin resonance analysis. The ferroelectric properties are studied through polarization versus electric field analysis. Zero field cooling-field cooling investigation substantiated superparamagnetic behavior and demonstrated the variation of saturation magnetization with respect to Zinc/Copper concentration, as per Neel’s and Yafet-Kittel models.