An insight into the nanosize and bulk Ni sub(0.5)Co sub(0.5)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) ferrites through their comparative study: Structural and magnetic investigations

Abstract

The proposed research work manifests the comparison of nanosized 'as prepared' Ni sub(0.5)Co sub(0.5)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) ferrite with their 'sintered' counterpart concerning their effect on the structural and magnetic properties. This paper conceptualizes the successful synthesis of Ni sub(0.5)Co sub(0.5)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) ferrite nanoparticles by combustion route and their structural characterization viz. powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The morphological studies like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) proclaimed the cuboidal nature of the particles. The alternating current (AC) susceptibility measurements determined the Curie temperature (Tc), which decreased in the 'sintered' ferrite. The vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) measurements showed an increase in the saturation magnetization and a substantial decrease in coercivity at 300 K and 60 K from nano to bulk ferrite. The temperature-dependent zero-field cooled-field cooled (ZFC-FC) magnetization curves revealed information about the blocking temperature of the 'as prepared' and 'sintered' ferrites.