Investigation of the structural, optical, electrical and dielectric proprieties of LiCd0.5Fe2O4 spinel ferrite

The spinel ferrite material families are subjected to diverse studies according to their wide field application. In this work, the LiCd0.5Fe2O4 ferrite was successfully synthesized by a conventional solid-state method. The structural, optical, electrical and dielectric characterizations were treated. The Rietveld refinement method explored cubic spinel structure (Fd3‾m space group) with a lattice parameter: a = 8.628 Å, α = 90°. Besides, the surface micrograph shows a strong agglomeration of the grains. Optical results were calculated using diffuse reflectance data and Kubelka Munk theory. They show the semiconductor nature with a band gap around 2.9 eV and Urbach energy around 0.14 eV. The electrical measurements were studied over a range of frequency (40 Hz–1 MHz) and through large temperature scale (200 K–380 K) using the complex impedance spectroscopy technique. The AC conductivity behavior was described by the jump relaxation model, which obeys to the Jonscher's law. The complex impedance analysis has suggested the presence of the contribution of the grains, the grain boundaries and interface in the conduction mechanism. A reduction in real part Z′ was observed as a function of temperature and frequency, which indicates an increase in ac conductivity and a negative temperature coefficient of resistance. Hence, the complex modulus plots have affirmed the presence of grain boundaries contribution in the material. Both the complex modulus and impedance investigations have confirmed that the synthesized material exhibits a non-Debye type of relaxation. Finally, the dielectric behavior of the studied sample shows a polarization effect and the permittivity graphs are fitted theoretically with the Cole-Cole model. •LiCd0.5Fe2O4 is prepared by the solid state reaction method.•Structural analysis evidenced nanocrystalline structure with cubic symmetry and Fd3m space group.•Optical band gap is suitable for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications.•Different conduction mechanisms involved in electrical conduction were identified.