Sol-gel synthesis and property studies of Cu0.4Mg0.4Co0.2FeCrO4 spinel ferrite for optoelectronic, magnetic, and electrical applications

This study investigated the properties of Cu0.4Mg0.4Co0.2FeCrO4 spinel ferrite synthesized using the sol -gel technique. The analysis covered thermal, morphological, structural, optical, magnetic, and electrical characteristics. The X-ray pattern analysis using Rietveld's refinement confirmed the well-formed cubic spinel structure of the sample. Optical properties were evaluated through absorbance measurements and the Tauc method, revealing a direct optical transition with low band-gab energy. The sample exhibited a significantly low Urbach energy, indicating minimal disorder and defects within its structure. Additionally, a study of other optical parameters such as refractive index, penetration depth, extinction coefficient, optical conductivity, and optical dielectric constants was comprehensively studied. These optical parameters provided valuable insights into the potential optoelectronic applications of the synthesized sample. The electrical conductivity study revealed that the sample exhibited semiconductor behavior, conforming to the CBH conduction model. Moreover, the Cu0.4Mg0.4Co0.2FeCrO4 spinel ferrite showcased low coercive field and high electrical resistivity, making it a promising candidate for soft magnetic devices and microwave absorption devices.