Structural and magnetic properties of NiCuZn ferrite/SiO2 nanocomposites

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 323; no. 16; pp. 2122 - 2128
• Main Authors: Praveena, K., Sadhana, K., Ramana Murthy, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis; Electron paramagnetic resonance and relaxation; Electron spin resonance (ESR); Exact sciences and technology; Ferrite; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic resonances and relaxations in condensed matter, mössbauer effect; Magnetization curves, magnetization reversal, hysteresis, barkhausen and related effects; Microwave-hydrothermal method; Nanocomposite; Physics; Sintering temperature; Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM); Ferrite; Nanocomposite; Electron spin resonance (ESR); Sintering temperature; Microwave-hydrothermal method; Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM); Scanning electron microscopy; Magnetization; Phase transformations; Microwave radiation; Magnetic hysteresis; Dispersion reinforced material; XRD; Ferrites; Composite materials; Hydrothermal synthesis; Nanocomposites; Silicon oxides; Sintering; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2011.03.001

Ni0.53Cu0.12Zn0.35Fe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites with different weight percentages of NiCuZn ferrite dispersed in silica matrix were prepared by microwave-hydrothermal method using tetraethylorthosilicate as a precursor of silica, and metal nitrates as precursors of NiCuZn ferrite. The structure and morphology of the composites were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The structural changes in these samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer in the range of 400–1500cm−1. The bands in the range of 580–880cm−1 show a slight increase in intensity, which could be ascribed to the enhanced interactions between the NiCuZnFe2O4 clusters and silica matrix. The effects of silica content and sintering temperature on the magnetic properties of Ni0.53Cu0.12Zn0.35Fe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites have been studied using electron spin resonance and vibrating sample magnetometer. ► No literature data is available on the microwave-hydtothermal synthesis method of NiCuZn ferrite/SiO2 nanocomposites so far. ► Using the microwave-hydrothermall synthesis method the magnetic properties of NiCuZn ferrite/SiO2 nanocomposites are enhanced. ► Using this method, the reaction time can be very low. ► Low temperature crystallization can be achieved using nanopowders and grain sizes of the composites can be controlled using microwave sintering method.