Effect of thermal neutron irradiation on CoLaxFe2-xO4 nanoferrites: XRD, FTIR, UV, and VSM spectroscopy

Cobalt-lanthanum ferrite nanoparticles with the formula CoLaxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.0 and 0.06) were prepared using the co-precipitation method. The structural and physical properties were studied before and after exposure to thermal neutrons. The samples were irradiated at different times and doses using a rabbit system. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the formation of the cubic spinel phase both before and after irradiation. The cation distribution for all samples was calculated based on the theoretical lattice parameters before and after irradiation. The FTIR spectra revealed two bands, νT (580–571 cm−1 for x = 0, and 585–575 cm−1 for x = 0.06) and νO (386–359 cm−1 for x = 0, and 383–376 cm−1 for x = 0.06). These bands became broader after irradiation. UV spectroscopy indicated that the increase in energy gap is mainly due to the decrease in particle size caused by the quantum confinement size effect. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) measurements at room temperature showed ferrimagnetic behavior for all samples. It was observed that the magnetic properties depended on the radiation dosage.