Influence of Nd3+ substitution on structural and magnetic properties of Zinc ferrite

Zinc ferrite samples, ZnFe2-xNdxO4 (where x= 0.05, 0.075, 0.1), have been synthesized by coprecipitation technique and then heat treated at different temperatures. The structural and magnetic studies have been conducted by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Vibrating sample magnetometer. X-ray diffraction shows the polycrystalline nature and spinel structure of samples. The average particle sizes of 28-32 nm are obtained through TEM images, which are in good agreement with the XRD results. The lattice constant has been found to increase with increase in Nd3+ content in the sample. FTIR transmission spectra show two strong absorption bands in the frequency range 400-600 cm-1, which are respectively attributed to the tetrahedral and octahedral sites of spinel structure. Magnetic properties such as coercivity, retentivity, as demonstrated in hysteresis curve of samples recorded by VSM, display super paramagnetic behaviour at 800℃. (author)