Characterization of Al3+ substituted lithium ferrite prepared by chemical method

Al3+ substituted lithium ferrites having general formula Li0.5Fe2.5−xAlxO4 with x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 were successfully synthesized by the chemical method. The starting materials used for this method are the metal nitrates and Urea (NH2CONH2) as fuel. This method involving exothermic reaction is popularly known as combustion method. X-ray diffraction and infra red spectroscopy is used to confirm the formation of the compounds. The room temperature electrical conductivity of these compounds is found relatively low which is attributed to the low loss of lithium during preparation. As expected the conductivity and Curie temperature (Tc) of these compounds is found to decrease with Al3+ substitutions. The μβ determined from hysteresis loop studies matches fairly with that of the calculated from presumed magnetic structure based on cation distribution and using the Neel's model.