Optical Emission Spectroscopy of Nickel-Substituted Cobalt-Zinc Ferrite

Nanoparticles of NixZn0.5-xCo0.5Fe2O4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of ferrites demonstrate the evidence of spinel cubic structure. Calculations show that the particle size increases and lattice parameter decreases by increasing nickel concentration. The emission characteristics of plasma generated by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at its fundamental harmonic (1064 nm) are investigated for all the six samples. Plasma temperature is calculated by Boltzmann plot method. The plasma temperature is found to decrease by decreasing laser energy and as the nickel concentration increases and zinc concentration decreases.