Structural, magnetic, and microwave absorbing properties of NiTiO3/CoFe2O4 composites

In this study, different volume ratios (NiTiO3: CoFe2O4 = 1:3, 2:3, 1:1) of NiTiO3/CoFe2O4 composites were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The effects of different NiTiO3 volume ratios on the structural, morphological, magnetic, and microwave properties were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy (RAMAN), vibrating-sample magnetometery (VSM), and vector network analysis. Electromagnetic wave absorption analysis indicated that 1:3 composite sample showed the greatest reflection loss (−21.7 dB at 17.1 GHz frequency) at a thickness of 10.0 mm. The microwave absorbing properties decrease with the increasing NiTiO3 volume ratio. The observed improvement can be attributed to the low degree crystallization of NiTiO3 that increases magnetic losses through increased exchange resonance. •Different volume ratios of NiTiO3/CoFe2O4 were synthesized by sol-gel method.•Microwave absorbing properties of NiTiO3 are very poor, nearly no broad peak with lower than − 10 dB.•1:3 composite sample showed greatest reflection loss (−21.7 dB at 17.1 GHz) at 10.0 mm thickness.•The improvement attributed to low degree crystallization of NiTiO3 that increases exchange resonance.