Synthesis and Investigation of Electrical Properties of Nickel Doped Magnesium Spinel Ferrites Nanoparticles

Abstract

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles (SFNs) have unique properties and wide range of applications. That is why spinel ferrites are getting a big attention now a day. Soft spinel ferrites with general formula Mg1-xNixFe2O4 where x = 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 were synthesized by solution gel (auto combustion) route by taking nitrates of magnesium, nickel and iron and citric acid. All the samples were calcinated at 800 0C for about 5 hours in a muffle furnace. The characterization like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for analysis of band positions and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological and surface analysis were done. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of single phase spinel structure of all the samples. The XRD data and Debye Sherrer formula helped to calculate crystallite size. The band positions were studied with the FTIR analysis. SEM confirmed uniformly synthesized spherical shaped nanoparticles. Impedance analyzer and LCR meter was used for performing dielectric measurements. The pellets of 0.6g of each sample were made first and sintering of the pellets was done at 750 0C for about an hour. Dielectric properties were studied. For the nickel substituted magnesium ferrite Mg1-xNixFe2O4 the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, dielectric tangent loss and ac conductivity increased with increase in nickel concentration. The dielectric constant value got enhanced by increasing nickel concentrations. The electrical properties and conductivity rises with increasing concentration of nickel.