Effect of Rare Earth Nd3+ Doping on Electrical Properties of Citrate-Gel Synthesized Ni-Zn Nanoferrites for High Frequency Applications

An attempt was made to elucidate the impact of Nd3+ ionic (Ni0.5Zn0.5NdxFe2-xO4, where x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25) substitution on electrical properties of Ni-Zn-Nd nanoferrites synthesized by optimized citrate-gel combustion route. DC and AC dielectric properties were studied for all the synthesized samples as a function of frequency and temperature. DC resistivity follows decreasing trend till x = 0.15, thereafter increases with the increasing concentration of Nd3+, speculating that Nd3+ ions impede the formation of Fe2+ ions. A linear trend for dc resisitivity with temperature was suggesting semiconducting behavior in all the doped samples. Furhter, drift mobility and activation energies were also estimated, were explained on the basis of cite preferences, variations of ionic radii and the hopping mechanism involved by the ions in these samples. Frequency dependance conductivity measurements were taken in the range of 1 to 10(7) Hz at 300 K recommend that Nd3+ regulates the conduction mechanism. Observed restuls in dielectric and conductivities infers that these are suitable for high frequency applications.