Role of Ni concentration on structural and magnetic properties of inverse spinel Ferrite

In present work, Nickel (Ni) substituted Mn-Co ferrite nanoparticles, with doping content varying from 0 to 0.1, have been synthesized. The inverse spinel structure of doped cobalt ferrite has been claimed by X-ray diffractometer with average particle size of 20 nm. The decrease in lattice parameter and increase in X-ray density has been found with increase in Ni concentration in ferrite structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed two vibrational frequency bands (nu(1) and nu(2)) for octahedral and tetrahedral sites depicting the formation of spinel ferrite. In addition, Transmission electron microscopy analyses were carried out to investigate particle size, which indicates that TEM and XRD analyses are in agreement. Magnetic analyses depict that coercivity value increases from 635 Oe to 841 Oe in Ni doped Mn-Co ferrite. Exchange interactions between Ni and Mn0.2Co0.8-xFe2O4 result for enlargement in coercivity and shift in hysteresis loop towards positive direction along the field axis. The increment in magnetic coercive field and exchange bias has been observed as temperature decreases. Enhanced magnetic properties at low temperature are attributed to magneto-crystalline anisotropy and surface effects.