Evaluation of spectral, optoelectrical, dielectric, magnetic, and morphological properties of RE3+ (La3+, and Ce3+) and Co2+ co-doped Zn0.75Cu0.25Fe2O4 ferrites

Abstract

Present work reports the synthesis of RE3+ (La3+, and Ce3+) and Co2+ co-doped Zn0.75Cu0.25Fe2O4 samples powder using sol-gel auto combustion process. Rietveld refinement established the spinel matrix with the space group (F d -3 m) and suggests that the uniform distribution of cations at the tetrahedral and octahedral lattice sites. The comparative study of crystallite size (D) was found using the Scherrer's relation, Scherrer's plot, Williamson-Hall (W–H), and Size-Strain (SS) plot methods for the as-prepared ferrites. The absorption band analysis confirmed the characteristic band absorptions lie in the frequency range of (577.82–418.84) 102 × m−1. Moreover, the electrical resistivity (ρ) measurements showed that the Co–Ce doped ZCF sample is highly resistive as compared to the other samples. The dielectric measurements revealed a dispersion pattern at lower frequencies and an almost frequency-independent pattern at higher frequencies. The field dependence of the dM/dH curve shows a magnetically well stable state and good crystallization cubic matrix of all the samples.