Effect of Ag doping on DC electrical resistivity, thermoelectrical power, VSM analysis and antimicrobial activity of copper-zinc nano-ferrites

• Published in: Indian journal of physics Vol. 96; no. 11; pp. 3161 - 3176
• Main Authors: Pawar, A. D., Patil, B. B., Bhongale, S. R., Salunkhe, A. K., Kumar, S., Shinde, T. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Banded structure; Composition; Copper; Crystallites; Doping; Electrical resistivity; Fourier transforms; Grain size; Infrared spectra; Magnetic saturation; Modulus of elasticity; N-type semiconductors; Original Paper; P-type semiconductors; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Silver; Spinel; Thermal energy; X ray analysis; Zinc; VSM; Antimicrobial effect; TEP; DC resistivity; Cu–Ag–Zn nano-ferrites
• ISSN: 0973-1458; 0974-9845
• DOI: 10.1007/s12648-021-02245-4

Silver-doped Cu–Zn nano-ferrites with composition Cu 0.6 Zn 0.4 Ag x Fe 2- x O 4 (where x  = 0, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02 and 0.025) were successfully prepared via co-precipitation technique. The presence of allowed planes in X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure. The appearance of two major absorption bands in Fourier transform infrared spectra supports the creation of spinel ferrites. The lattice parameter and crystallite size of Cu–Zn nano-ferrites show nonlinear behavior with Ag doping. The grain size of the Cu–Zn nano-ferrites is found to be increased with increasing Ag 3+ concentration. The achievement of required stoichiometric nano-ferrites was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. No any notable tendency was observed in elastic moduli of Cu–Zn nano-ferrites with Ag doping. It is observed that the thermal energy required for conversion of p-type to n-type semiconducting behavior of Cu–Zn nano-ferrites extends with increasing Ag doping, except x  = 0.025 composition. DC resistivity study shows metal–semiconductor behavior of Ag-doped Cu–Zn ferrites. The saturation magnetization of Cu 0.6 Zn 0.4 Ag 0.025 Fe 1.975 O 4 is very much higher as compared to other compositions. Antimicrobial study shows that inhibitory zone of Cu–Zn nano-ferrites increases with increasing silver doping. Due to higher saturation magnetization and improved antimicrobial activity, Cu 0.6 Zn 0.4 Ag 0.025 Fe 1.975 O 4 is applicable in industrial as well as medical field.