Physico-chemical analysis of pure and Zn Doped Cd ferrites (Cd1 − xZnxFe2O4) nanofabricated by Pechini sol–gel method

• Pure and Zn2+ doped cadmium ferrite (Cd(1 − x)ZnxFe2O4; x = 0.0–0.6) have been nanofabricated by Pechini sol–gel method using citric acid-glycol as complexing agents.
• Single-phase spinel grains with surface area in the range of 5.3944–11.1563 m2/g have been obtained.
• The method used has an edge over the other conventional methods due to remarkable control over purity, particle size and magnetic properties.

Nanofabrication of pure and Zn2+ doped cadmium ferrite (Cd1 − x ZnxFe2O4; x = 0.0–0.6) have been carried out by Pechini sol–gel method using citric acid-glycol as complexing and template agents. Morphology and microstructure of the fine ferrite materials obtained were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and N2-physisorption (BET). The single-phase spinel grains averaging 37–51 nm in diameter with surface area in the range of 5.3944–8.7693 m2/g have been obtained. EDX studies reveal high chemical purity of the prepared ferrites. An increase in Zn2+ substitution leads to a reduction in the lattice parameter, crystallite size, transition temperature as well as increase in surface area, magnetic parameters of doped Cd ferrites. Room temperature magnetic measurements using vibratory sample magnetometer (VSM) and Mössbauer studies demonstrate that both nature and concentration of dopant control the site preference in the crystal lattices.