Synthesis, characterization and electromagnetic studies on nanocrystalline nickel zinc ferrite by polyacrylamide gel

Nanocrystalline nickel zinc ferrite powders (NixZn1-xFe2O4, A for x=0, B for x=0.2, C for x=0.5, D for x=0.8 and E for x= 1) were synthesized by polyacrylamide gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wave-guide were used to characterize the composition. The XRD results show that the dried gel powders are amorphous, and the characteristic peaks of the spinel Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 appear after the gel is calcined at 400 degrees C for I h. When the calcining temperatures are 600 and 800 degrees C, the average grain sizes are identified by TEM to be 10 and 30 nm, respectively. The NixZn1-xFe2O4 powders have both dielectric loss and magnetic loss in the frequency range of 8.2-11.0GHz. With the increase of Ni2+ ions content, the dielectric parameters (epsilon') and permeability (u') of the NixZn1-xFe2O4 powders decrease while the dielectric loss (epsilon ''), magnetic loss (u '') and the reflection loss increase.