Effect of Ni substitution on structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of Zn ferrite nanoparticles

Effect of Ni doping on ZnFe2O4 samples was prepared by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. The obtained samples were calcinated at 6000C. Then, the samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, dielectric and magnetic properties. XRD results confirm the formation of a cubic spinel-type structure with an average crystallite size decreased with Ni concentration from 33.68 to 31 nm. Lattice parameter decreases with increasing Ni concentration, due to the small ionic radius of the Ni2+ ion. The SEM images show the morphology of the samples as spherical shaped particles in agglomeration. The dielectric constant and magnetization showed an increasing trend with increasing Ni concentration due to the rearrangement of cations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites.