Structural, Electrical, Dielectric, and Magnetic Properties of Cd2+ Substituted Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles

In the present investigation structural, electric, magnetic, and frequency dependent dielectric properties of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 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 Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 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 (TC) from 860°C to 566°C with increasing Cd2+ content x in Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 NPs were determined from AC-Susceptibility. Activation energy ΔE ranges within 0.03~0.15 eV. Decreasing magnetic saturation Ms, coercivity Hc, and magneton number nB values show the effect on nonmagnetic Cd2+ ions over magnetic Ni2+ and Fe ions