Influence of Ce3+ substitution on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Zn0. 5Mn0. 43Cd0. 07Fe2O4 spinel ferrites

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of Ce3+ ions addition on the microstructure, electrical and magnetic behaviour of Cadmium doped Mn–Zn ferrites was investigated. A series having composition Zn0·5Mn0·43Cd0·07Fe2-yCeyO4 (y = 0.0–0.7) was synthesized by wet chemical route. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that prepared particles having size in nano-regime having cubic spinel structure with preferred (311) plane. Weakening of (311) plane intensity and emergence of secondary phase with Ce3+ ion concentration verified the substitution of Ce3+ ions in the spinel lattice of ferrite. The crystallite size varied between 46.4 and 67 nm as the concentration of Ce3+ ions increased from x = 0.0–0.7. Temperature and composition dependent electrical resistivity and activation energy values were calculated by current-voltage (I–V) characteristics in the temperature range 423–823 K by two probe method. It was observed that DC Resistivity and activation energy of synthesized nanoparticle ranges between109 to ~1010 Ohm cm and 11.78–2.56 eV respectively with increasing the concentration of Ce3+ ions. MH curves of prepared samples showed the paramagnetic nature of spinel feerites. The reported data suggested that these particles promising candidates for high-frequency applications.