Structural, Electrical, Dielectric, and Magnetic Properties of Cd 2+ Substituted Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present investigation structural, electric, magnetic, and frequency dependent dielectric properties of N i 1 - x C d x F e 2 O 4 ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) (where x = 0.2 , 0.4 , 0.6 , and 0.8) prepared by sol-gel autocombustion method were studied. The crystallite size ( t ) (46.89~58.40 nm) was estimated from X-ray diffraction data with the postconfirmation of single phase spinel structure. Spherical shaped, fused grain nature with intergranular diffusion in N i 1 - x C d x F e 2 O 4 NPs was observed in scanning electron micrographs. The value of loss tangent ( tan ⁡ δ ) decreases exponentially with an increasing frequency indicating normal Maxwell-Wagner type dielectric dispersion due to interfacial polarization. Decreasing values of Curie temperature ( T C ) from 860°C to 566°C with increasing Cd 2+ content x in N i 1 - x C d x F e 2 O 4 NPs were determined from AC-Susceptibility. Activation energy Δ E ranges within 0.03~0.15 eV. Decreasing magnetic saturation M s , coercivity H c , and magneton number n B values show the effect on nonmagnetic Cd 2+ ions over magnetic Ni 2+ and Fe ions.