Structural and electrical conductivity studies in nickel ferrite nano-particles

The magnetic nano-particles of nickel ferrite were synthesized successfully by sol-gel auto-combustion method using high purity metal nitrates and citric acid as chelating agent. The as prepared powder of nickel ferrite was sintered at 550 degrees C for 5 hr to obtain good crystalline phase and was used for further study. The X-ray diffraction technique was employed to confirm the single phase formation of nickel ferrite nano-particles. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the Bragg's peak which belongs to cubic spinel structure. The values of lattice constant, X-ray density, oxygen parameter and radii of tetrahedral and octahedral sites were calculated from XRD data. The average crystallite size was estimated using Scherrer's formula and found to be 6 nm. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity plot shows the kink, which can be attributed to ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition. The activation energy obtained from resistivity plots in paramagnetic region is found to be more than that in ferrimagnetic region. The conduction mechanism in these nickel ferrite nano-particles has been discussed on the basis of hopping of electrons.