Influence of trivalent Al–Cr co-substitution on the structural, morphological and Mössbauer properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 821; p. 153501
• Main Authors: Bharati, V.A., Somvanshi, Sandeep B., Humbe, Ashok V., Murumkar, V.D., Sondur, V.V., Jadhav, K.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 25.04.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum; Al–Cr co-substitution; Chromium; Citric acid; Crystallites; Debye-Scherrer method; Fuels; Grain size; Hyperfine structure; Lattice parameters; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Magnetization; Mathematical analysis; Morphology; Mossbauer; Mossbauer spectroscopy; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Nickel ferrites; Quadrupoles; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Sol-gel auto combustion; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; Substitutes; Sol-gel auto combustion; Magnetization; Mossbauer; Al–Cr co-substitution
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.153501
• ISSN: 0925-8388

Here, we report the influence of nonmagnetic Al3+ and magnetic Cr3+ co-substitution on the structural, morphological, magnetic and Mössbauer properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel auto combustion route. Citric acid was used as a fuel and metal nitrate to fuel ratio was chosen to be 1:3. The resultant powder was sintered at 550 °C for 4 h and used for further characterizations. Single phase formation and nanocrystalline nature was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystallite size of all the samples calculated through Debye-Scherrer’s formula found to be in the range of 18–55 nm. The lattice constant calculated from XRD data show decreasing trend. Scanning electron microscopy technique was used to study the surface morphology of typical samples (x = 0.0 and 0.4). The average grain size determined through SEM images found to be 70 nm–35 nm respectively for x = 0.0 and 0.4 samples. The magnetic properties were investigated through magnetization and Mössbauer spectroscopy technique. The saturation magnetization measured from M-H hysteresis plot show decreasing trend with increase in Al–Cr content x. Using Mössbauer spectra the relative area of a sextet (T), Isomer shift (δ), Hyperfine Field (Hf), Quadrupole Splitting (Δ) and Line width (Γ) were calculated. Overall, the co-substitution of Al–Cr has significantly influenced the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles. •Al3+ and Cr3+ co-substituted nickel ferrite nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by wet chemical route.•XRD studies confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure.•It’s morphological, magnetic and Mossbauer properties were investigated.•Magnetic properties were influenced significantly by nonmagnetic Al3+ and magnetic Cr3+ ion substitution in nickel ferrite.•Al3+ and Cr3+ co-substituted nickel ferrite nanoparticles are desirable in high frequency electronic devices.