Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Nickel Based Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

In the present work, a cost effective and environmentally friendly sol-gel auto-combustion technique has been used to synthesize spinel ferrite nanoparticles of NixZn1-xFe2O4 (x= 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0). They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). While their magnetic properties were measured at room temperature using a Magnetic Properties Measurement System (MPMS) quantum design magnetometer, the LCR meter (PSM 1735, NumetriQ 4th Ltd. U.K.) was used to study their dielectric properties with variable frequency in the range, 1Hz - 5 MHz. The XRD analysis suggests the presence of cubic spinel structure of ferrites with an average crystallite size of 45-79 nm. The dielectric constant and loss tangent of the samples show a normal dielectric behavior. The variation of dielectric behavior with the frequency is due to the Maxwell-Wagner type interfacial polarization and hopping of electrons between the Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. The magnetic studies reveal that addition of Zn2+ concentration drastically affects the magnetic properties