Synthesis, structural, electrical and magnetic characteristics of Co–Cd spinel nano ferrites synthesized via sol-gel auto combustion method

Nanocrystalline spinel ferrites with the general chemical formula Cd1-xCoxFe2O4 (where x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.75, or 1.0) were prepared using the sol-gel auto combustion method. To analyze the structural properties of the spinel ferrite samples that were manufactured, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed. A vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) were used to examine the magnetic and dielectric properties of the synthesized ferrite samples. The principal cubic phase with space group Fd3m and hematite hexagonal phase α-Fe2O3 were observed simultaneously, as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Rietveld refinement revealed that the lattice parameters and the volume fraction of the hematite hexagonal phase decreased as the concentration of Co dopant increased. Two unique absorption bands were recognized and their dependence on the concentration of Co was investigated and clarified with the use of FTIR analysis. According to VSM measurements, the saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc) were improved as the Co content increased. Through the examination of X-ray diffraction and magnetic characteristics, the cation distribution in Cd1-xCoxFe2O4 spinel ferrite was explored. The pure cobalt ferrite sample exhibits the lowest permittivity and ac conductivity values, according to the dielectric measurements, reflecting the insulation feature of the pure cobalt ferrite.