Comparative Study of Structural, Electrical, and Magnetic Behaviour of Ni-Cu-Zn Nanoferrites Sintered by Microwave and Conventional Techniques

Ni0.8-xCuxZn0.2Fe2O4 spinel type ferrite nanoparticles have been synthesized by citrate precursor method. These nanoparticles were then given heat treatment using microwave and conventional sintering techniques. Various characterizations using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), LCR meter, and B-H loop tracer were carried out on the sintered specimens. The XRD spectra of these ferrites confirmed the formation of spinel structure. The average crystallite size calculated using Scherrer's formula was found to be in the nanometer range, its value varying from 33 nm to 39 nm. Microwave sintered samples exhibited superior electrical and magnetic behaviour over their conventionally sintered counterparts. Feasibility of low temperature synthesis and promising properties will render these ferrites suitable for multilayer chip inductor applications.