Chemical synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of nano-structured Co-Zn-Fe-Cr ferrite

Nanoparticles of Co1-xZnxFe2-xCrxO4 (x = 0.0-0.5) ferrites were prepared by chemical co-precipitation technique using metal sulphates. The structural and magnetic properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and AC susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the samples possess single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice constant initially increases for x <= 0.3 and thereafter for x > 0.3 it decreases with increasing x. The saturation magnetization (Ms), magneton number (n(B)) and coercivity (Hc) decreases with increasing Cr-Zn content x. Curie temperature deduced from AC susceptibility data decreases with increasing x. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.