Low temperature synthesis of Mn_0.4Zn_0.6In_0.5Al_0.1Fe_1.4O₄ nano-ferrite and characterization for high frequency applications

Material Science Laboratory, Department of Physics, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla-171005, India

Corresponding author: atulhpu@gmail.com

Received: 17 June 2007
Revised: 4 September 2007
Accepted: 3 December 2007
Published online: 6 February 2008

Abstract

In the present study, nano-ferrite of composition Mn_0.4Zn_0.6In_0.5Al_0.1Fe_1.4O₄ has been synthesized by co-precipitation method. Decomposition of residue at a temperature as low as 200 °C, gives the ferrite powder. The ferrite has been, finally, sintered at 500 °C. The structural studies have been made by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirms the formation of single spinel phase and nanostructure. The dc resistivity is studied as a function of temperature and values are found more than twice than those for the samples prepared by the other chemical methods ... It is found that the resistivity decreases with an increase in temperature. The initial permeability value is found to be higher as compared to the other chemical routes. The initial permeability value is found to increase with an increase in temperature. At a certain temperature called Curie temperature, it attains a maximum value, after which the initial permeability decreases sharply. Even at nanolevel, appreciable value of initial permeability is obtained and low magnetic losses make these ferrites especially suitable for high frequency applications. The particle size is calculated using Scherrer's equation for Lorentzian peak, which comes out between 55 nm–69 nm. Possible mechanisms contributing to these processes have been discussed.