Structural, morphological, optical, magnetic and dielectric properties of Ni sub(1-x)Zn sub(x)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) (x = 0 - 1) nanoparticles

Ni sub(1-x)Zn sub(x)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by solution combustion method. The presence of zinc ions causes considerable changes in the structural and magnetic properties of the NiFe sub(2)O sub(4). The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Vibrating sample magnetometer. The average particle size of the powder is determined from XRD. It confirms the nanosized dimension of the NPs in the size range of 60-70 nm. The Zn super(2+) content has a significant influence on the dielectric properties of sintered Ni sub(1-x)Zn sub(x)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) samples, such as dielectric constant (k) and dielectric loss tangent ( delta ). These values decrease with increasing zinc content. The saturation magnetization and the experimental magnetic moment are observed to initially increase (up to x = 0.25), and then continuously decrease with further increase in Zn content x. This decreasing trend obeys the three-sub lattice model suggested by Yafet-Kittel (Y-K). The Y-K angle for the NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) NPs increases gradually with increasing Zn concentration.