Mossbauer Spectroscopy, Structural and Magnetic Studies of Zn2+ Substituted Magnesium Ferrite Nanomaterials Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

Zinc substituted magnesium ferrite nanomaterials Mg1-xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) powders have been prepared by a solgel autocombustion method. The lattice parameter increases with increase in Zn concentration, but average crystallite size tends to decrease by increasing the zinc content. SEM results indicate the distribution of grains and morphology of the samples. Some particles are agglomerated due to the presence of magnetic interactions among particles. Room temperature Mossbauer spectra of Mg1-xZnxFe2O4 shows that the A Mossbauer absorption area decreases and the B Mossbauer absorption area increases with zinc concentration increasing. The change of the saturation magnetization can be explained with Neel's theory. It was confirmed that the transition from ferrimagnetic to superparamagnetic behaviour depends on increase in zinc concentration by Mossbauer spectra at room temperature. Saturation magnetization increases and coercivity decreases with Zn content increasing.