Effect of Nd-Y co-substitution on structural, magnetic, optical and microwave properties of NiCuZn nanospinel ferrites

Abstract

Partially Nd/Y substituted [Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4](NdxYxFe2-2x)O4 (x ≤ 0.05) spinel ferrite nanoparticles (NSFs) were prepared by citrate sol-gel auto-combustion technique. UV–vis Percent to determine optoelectronic properties mixed spinel ferrite materials. Direct energy band gaps values are within 1.87 and 1.92 eV interval. The magnetization features were investigated at room temperature (RT; T = 300 K) versus magnetic field ((M-H)). RT M-H curves showed superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior in non-substituted sample (x = 0.00), while all the Nd-Y substituted NiCuZn ferrite NPs exhibited soft ferrimagnetic (FM) character. It is found that the magnitude of magnetization drops with a rise in Nd3+ and Y3+ contents. ZFC–FC magnetization curves revealed the existence of dipolar interactions, which illuminate a partially blocked state in accordance with M-H loops at 300 K. The electrodynamic data reflection coefficients for Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4](NdxYxFe2-2x)O4 (x ≤ 0.05) NSFs were determined. The occurrences of the electromagnetic absorption between 49 to 4.15 GHz frequency range were observed. A significant linking amongst the ratio (x) and amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) was investigated. Additionally, the AFC of the Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4](NdxYxFe2-2x)O4 (x ≤ 0.05) NSFs were strongly influenced with the increase of Nd/Y concentration. It was demonstrated that low level of the concentration substitution (less than 10 at.%) not critically effected on resonance characteristics. We found that an anomalous altering of the resonant amplitude (almost 2 times) resulted due the manifestation of indirect exchange interactions amongst iron (III), yttrium (III) and neodymium (III) electronic shells. Almost a linear behavior of the main AFC was observed.

Keywords

• Spinel ferrites
• Optical properties
• Magnetization
• Microwave properties