The Effects of Cu and Zn Dopants on Phase Constituents, Magnetic Properties and Microstructure of Nickel Ferrite

In this research nanoparticles of Ni0.55Zn0.35Cu0.1Fe2O4 were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion method. Changes in phase constituents, microstructure and magnetic properties as a result of Zn and Cu additions were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and Vibration Sample Magnetometer (VSM) techniques. XRD results show that the doped sample have a single phase cubic spinel structure while the undoped sample consists of NiFe2O4, FeNi3, α-Fe2O3 and NiO phases. Changes in cell parameter calculated by MAUD software using XRD patterns showed that the cell parameters of the doped sample had expansion about 0.044 Å. Microstructural studies demonstrated considerable reduction of particle size and particle size distribution in the sample synthesized with dopants. Magnetic measurements have been determined increasing of the saturation magnetization from 36.96emu/g to 56.46emu/g and decreasing of coercivity force from 175.5Oe to 98.79Oe in the sample synthesized with dopants. Changes in microstructure and magnetic properties have been explained.