Synthesis of Aluminum Substituted Nickel Ferrites via Hydrothermal Method and Investigation of Structural, Electrical and Magnetic Characteristics

Abstract

Hydrothermal method was used for the preparation of Aluminum substituted Nickel ferrites (NiAlxFe2-xO4, x= 0.0, 0.1, 0.2) to study the effect of substitution of Al on structural, magnetic and electrical properties of Nickel ferrite. X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron microscopy, Energy Dispersive spectrum, Fourier Transmission Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Two Probe technique was used to characterize the samples. A single phase spinal structure was confirmed by XRD diffraction and lattice parameter was reduced from 8.40 Å to 8.25 Å.SEM micrographs showed nanoparticles are agglomerated and are non-uniform in size.EDX analysis confirmed that substitution has been successfully achieved. The FTIR spectrum revealed the absorption band of octahedral site is around 650 cm-1 for pure Nickel ferrite and this band shifted toward higher frequency with increasing the Al content because substitution of Al reduces the bond length. The M-H loop justified that substitution of nonmagnetic Al+3 (0μB) decreased the Saturation magnetization (Ms) and increased the Coercivity (Hc). The substitution of Al increased the resistivity of the Nickel ferrite which will make the material suitable for high frequency applications and where low eddy current losses are desirable.