Novel polyvinyl alcohol polymer based nanostructure with ferrites co-doped with nickel and cobalt ions for magneto-sensor application

Uniform nanosheet‐like structures were synthesized by the polymer based co‐precipitation route. Different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (pure (0 g), 0.2 g and 0.5 g) were added to nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) ion co‐doped ferrite magnetic nanoparticles. X‐ray diffraction confirmed a spinel structure phase of the Ni − Co ferrites. Enhanced average crystallite size (6.7%) of the Ni − Co ferrites was found on polymer incorporation. The molecular functional group of polyvinyl alcohol and Ni − Co ferrites was confirmed by infrared and Raman spectroscopy techniques. On adding polymer, the spherical morphology of the Ni − Co ferrites was tailored to nanosheets (200 nm × 300 nm). Therefore, the polymer based co‐precipitation technique is an inexpensive, simple and effective route to engineer the morphology of the magnetic nanostructure and could be useful for gas sensor and magnetic sensors. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry Without and with polymer incorporated nickel and cobalt ions co‐doped ferrite prepared by co‐precipitation route and their structural, Raman and SEM analysis were studied for magneto‐senor application.