Magnetic and Structural Properties of Cobalt- and Zinc-Substituted Nickel Ferrite Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Method

Ceramic spinel-based ferrites of cobalt, nickel and zinc were prepared by means of the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. All samples were thoroughly characterized using different techniques for their structural, compositional, phonic and magnetic properties. The Rietveld analysis of x-ray powder diffraction data revealed the crystallinity as well single-phase partially inverse spinel structure. Wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence measurement indicates a good correlation between the empirical stoichiometry. The estimated average crystallite size varies between 9 nm and 13 nm (XRPD) and 6 and 14 nm for high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. In addition, the observed micro-strain varies in the range of 0.01–0.6%. All samples show a quasi-spherical morphology and slight agglomeration. Infrared and Raman data spectra exhibit characteristic modes for spinel-based ferrites. Direct current magnetic measurements indicate behavior typical of magnetically soft materials system at 300 K.