Structural and magnetic properties of (Co1–xNix)Cr2O4 (x = 0.5, 0.25) nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of (Co1–xNix)Cr2O4, with x = 0.5 and 0.25, were prepared utilizing the sol-gel technique, in order to investigate the effect of Ni substitution at the Co site. The crystal structure of the prepared samples was identified using X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy images indicate a non-uniform distribution in particle sizes. Temperature dependent magnetization measurements as a function of probing field demonstrate different magnetic transition temperatures to that of both the parent compounds. The magnetization as a function of applied magnetic field shows a wasp-waist like feature for (Co0.5Ni0.5)Cr2O4 nanoparticles measured at 10 K, which is absent in both NiCr2O4 and CoCr2O4. This feature diminished for other measurement temperatures below the Curie temperature and was also absent at all temperatures for the (Co0.75Ni0.25)Cr2O4 nanoparticles. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy results show that the Ni cations prefers the 3+ and Co the 2+ oxidation states, while that of Cr was found to be 3+. However, mixed oxidation states were observed for Ni and Co in both samples, which can influence the magnetic properties