The Effects of Mn –Substitution on the Structural and Magnetic Parameters of Zn Ferrites Synthesized by Sol Gel Method

Abstract

Single phase Mn substituted Zn ferrites with chemical formula Zn1-xMnxFe2O4 (x= 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were synthesized by means of Sol-gel auto-combustion technique. The samples were sintered at 700oC and then characterized by different experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),Scanning electrons microscope(SEM),Vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM) andVector network analysis (VNA). The single phase formation of all the samples was confirmed by the XRD analysis. Lattice parameter (a), volume (V) and X-ray density (Dx) as a function of Mn contents were calculated from XRD patterns. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the grain size of all the ferrites is found to be in the range of 200nm-250nm. FTIR spectra give us idea about different functional groups present in a material and nature of molecular bonds in the substance. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to determine M-H loops of all the samples. The value of coercivity is found to be several hundred oersteds which indicate that the material is soft spinel ferrite in nature. In addition, high frequency parameters (direct and real permittivity, permeability, conductivity and loss tangent) were studied as a function of frequency (1GHz-6GHz) for a selected sample.