Synthesis and Characterization of Mg doped ZnFe$_2$O$_4$

Abstract

Single-phase Mg-doped ZnFe$_2$O$_4$ nanoparticles with x= 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 have been prepared by the glycol-thermal method without any subsequent calcination. The crystallite size, microstructure and magnetic properties of the prepared nanoparticles were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscope (TEM), Mossbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature. The XRD results revealed the production of a sharp single cubic spinel structure in all the synthesized samples without any impurity peak with the average crystallite size of about 19-28 nm. It was noticed that the lattice parameter varies as the Mg$^{2+}$ ion concentration increases. 57 Mossbauer measurement showed that the nano ferrites exhibit ferrimagnetic and superparamagnetic states. Magnetization measurements confirmed the superparamagnetic behaviour of the samples. The highest coercivity and saturation magnetization were observed at x=0.3. The saturation magnetization (MS) decreases while coercivity (HC) varies with an increase in the concentration of Mg$^{2+}$ ion.