Influence of B-site Gd sup(+3) substitution on various properties of Co-ferrite nanoparticles

Abstract

The effect of rare earth (Gd sup(+3)) substitution on various properties of nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite material with composition CoFe sup(2-x) Gd sup(x) O (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0,08, 0.1) prepared using combustion method was investigated. The alterations produced in the structural parameters of the spinel lattice of cobalt ferrite were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structural parameter such as lattice constant, mass density, strain, and crystallite size showed irregular variation triggered due to rare earth inclusion. The chemical composition analysis was done using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Morphological investigations were done using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The dependence of A.C. susceptibility and other crucial magnetic properties on rare earth content in the ferrite matrix was also investigated. The temperature dependence of electrical properties such as DC resistivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss was also investigated to study the alterations caused due to incorporation of rare earth ions. The rare-earth-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles prepared and analyzed in this research work were seen to possess magnetic characteristics which are essential for various biomedical applications.