Effect of Sc³⁺ on structural and magnetic properties of Mn-Zn nano ferrites

In the present investigation, for the first time, we report on the effect of Sc³⁺ on the structural and magnetic properties of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Sc_yFe_2-yO₄ (y = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) nanoferrites synthesized by solution combustion method using the mixture of fuels. As synthesized powders were characterized for the detailed structural analysis by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and room temperature magnetic properties by using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results of XRD and FTIR confirm that the formation of nano crystalline, single-phased Mn-Zn ferrite with cubic spinel structure belongs to Fd-3m space group. The room temperature magnetic studies shows that, the saturation magnetization (M_S), remanence magnetization (M_R) and magnetic moment (η_B), magnetic particle size (D_m) have found to increase with Sc³⁺ ion concentration up to x = 0.3 and then decrease. The values of αY-K and the magnetic particle size (D_m) are found to be in the range of 68-75° and 10-19 nm respectively, with Sc³⁺ concentration.