Structural and magnetic properties of ZnMg-ferrite nanoparticles prepared using the co-precipitation method

We synthesized soft magnetic spinel ferrite ZnMg-ferrite (Zn1−xMgxFe2O4, where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) nanoparticles using the co-precipitation method. Structural and magnetic properties have been studied in detail. XRD revealed that the structure of these nanoparticles is spinel with crystallite size lies in the range 21–31 nm. Lattice parameter decreases with increasing Mg concentration due to the smaller ionic radius of the Mg2+ ion. FTIR spectroscopy also confirmed the formation of spinel ferrite by showing the characteristic absorption bands at 420 cm−1 and 545 cm−1. Vibrational band of metal ion at tetrahedral site (Mtet.) with oxygen ions (O–Mtet.–O) is shifted toward higher wave numbers with the increase of Mg concentration. The magnetization showed an increasing trend with increasing Mg concentration due to the rearrangement of cations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites, while the corecivity remained constant due to the soft nature of the ferrite composition. Both structural and magnetic properties of ZnMg-ferrite nanoparticles strongly depend upon Mg2+ cation doping percentage.