Effect of Nd3+ substitution on structural and magnetic properties of Mg-Cd ferrites synthesized by microwave sintering technique

Nd3+ substituted spinel ferrites with formula MgxCd(1-x)Nd(0.03)Fe(1.97)O(4) (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) were prepared by oxalate co-precipitation method using novel microwave sintering technique. AR grade sulphates were used as starting chemicals. The samples were sintered at optimized power of 70 W for 10 min in a microwave oven (800 W). The structural analysis of these samples was done by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform IR techniques. The XRD analysis of the synthesized ferrite confirms the formation of cubic spinel structure of ferrite. The influence of Nd3+ substitution on various structural parameters of Mg-Cd ferrites was reported. IR study indicates the spectra contain two intense absorption bands around 600 and 400 cm(-1) in addition with four extra bands. The magnetic properties of all ferrites were studied by using a vibration sample magnetometer. The crystallite and grain size dependant magnetic properties are observed. The composition Mg0.6Cd0.4Nd0.03Fe1.97O4 has better magnetic properties that can be used in recording media. The fast synthesis of spinel ferrites is yielded due to use of the microwave sintering technique. (c) 2018 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.