Synthesis and analysis of structural, compositional, morphological, magnetic, electrical and surface charge properties of Zn-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles

Zn-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles (ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4) were synthesized using the co-precipitation technique. The structural and compositional studies of the ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4 nanoparticles revealed their face-centred cubic spinel structure and an appropriate amount of Zn doping in nickel ferrite nanoparticles, respectively. The morphological analysis had been carried out to obtain the particle size of the synthesized nanoparticles. The magnetic studies revealed the superparamagnetic nature of the ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4 nanoparticles, and the maximum magnetization of 30 emu/g for the Zn0.2N0.8Fe2O4 sample. The M - H curves were fitted with the Langevin function to obtain the magnetic particle diameter of ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4 nanoparticles. The electrical conduction in ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4 nanoparticles was explained through the Verway hopping mechanism. The Zn0.2N0.8Fe2O4 nanoparticle exhibited a higher electrical conductivity of 42 mu S/cm and surface charge of -29/7 mV due to the enhanced hopping of Fe3+ ions in the octahedral sites. Owing to this nature, they were identified as the suitable candidates in the applications such as thermoelectrics, hyperthermia, magnetic coating and for the preparation of conducting ferrofluids.