Exploration of the structural, magnetic, and DC electrical resistivity characteristics of nanoparticles consisting of Sm3+substituted NiCuZn spinel ferrite

In this study, we investigate the effects of Sm3+ substitution at low concentrations on the structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of ferrite samples. The original composition (Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe2-xSmxO4) was modified with varying values of x (0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08). To achieve this, we employed the sol-gel auto -combustion method. We performed a range of characterizations, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), DC electrical resistivity testing, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis. Our XRD analysis confirmed that the ferrite samples exhibited a cubic spinel structure with a well-defined (311) plane peak, indicating high crystallinity and a single-phase composition. The Sm incorporation into NiCuZn ferrite material increases in lattice constant, which lies 8.3954 A to 8.4287 A. The crystallite size decreases from 41 to 36 nm. The FESEM micrographs further revealed that the average grain size decreased as the Sm3 + concentration increased. The FTIR spectra analysis successfully incorporated Sm3+ ions into the octahedral sites within the ferrite lattice. We found that pure ferrite (x = 0.00) nanoparticles exhibited the highest saturation magnetization (Ms) value at room temperature, measuring 75 emu/g. As the Sm3+ substitution level increased, we observed a progressive reduction in saturation magnetization (Ms). Notably, the most significant change in DC resistivity occurred at a substitution ratio of x = 0.02, indicating the substantial influence of Sm3+ ions on the activation energy. These magnetic and electrical properties offer valuable insights into applications in various technological fields like magnetic recording media.