Synthesis, structural characterization and broadband ferromagnetic resonance in Li ferrite nanoparticles

Lithium ferrites are well known materials due to its numerous technological applications especially in microwave devices. Lithium ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel technique by means of Pechini method, and then annealed at different temperatures in 250-1000 degrees C range. XRD confirms spinel formation with particles sizes in 15-700 nm range, with increased size with annealing temperature, whereas FTIR and Raman measurement confirm that single phase lithium ferrite with ordered cationic structure is obtained. Microwave magnetoabsorption data of the annealed lithium ferrite nanoparticles were obtained with a broadband system based on a network analyzer that operates up to 8.5 GHz. At fields up to 200 mT we can observe a broad absorption peak that shifts to higher frequencies with magnetic field according to ferromagnetic resonance theory. The amplitude of absorption, up to 85%, together with the frequency width of about 5.5 GHz makes this material suitable as wave absorber. FMR parameters like resonance field, linewidth and broadening are analyzed in order to obtain the characteristic parameters and analyze the microwave behaviour. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.