Investigation of Structural, Magnetic Properties, and Temperature-Dependent Electrical Resistivity of Mg0.5-xCuxZn0.5Fe2O4 Ferrites

This study used a solid-state reaction method to synthesize Cu 2+ substituted Mg-Zn Mg 0.5-x Cu x Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 (MgCuZn) where x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 ferrites effectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and DC electrical resistivity analyses characterized the synthesized spinel ferrites. XRD measurements revealed the formation of cubic spinel ferrite as a single phase with crystallite sizes between 44.58–31.02 nm. As Cu 2+ ion substitution increases, the lattice parameter exhibits a growth trend. The lattice parameter values showed an increase from the range of 8.413 to 8.429 Å. SEM was used to examine the surface appearance and microstructure of the ferrite samples. SEM micrographs showed that the average grain size was 1 to 2 µm. Two distinct ferrite-specific absorption bands, between 580.40–598.84 cm −1 and 402.15–405.35 cm −1 , can be seen in FT-IR spectra. The saturation magnetization was between 19.66 – 53.51 emu/g, according to the Vibrating Sample Magnetometer investigation, whereas the coercivity value was between 146.33–31.43 Oe. For the prepared samples, the dc resistivity was calculated in the range 1.21 × 10 5 cm −1 to 2.6 × 10 5 cm −1 and then increased to 1.46 × 10 5 cm −1 with increasing Cu 2+ from x = 0.0 to x = 0.25. These materials are determined to be suitable for use in high-frequency applications based on all of the findings.