Enhancement in dielectric and magnetic properties of Ni–Zn ferrites prepared by sol–gel method

• Cr-Zn co-doped Ni-Zn ferrites were prepared with a newly reported sol gel method.
• Phase purity and a very good control of crystallite and particle size are obtained.
• Low eddy current losses are obtained due to low dielectric losses.
• Operational frequency of doped Ni-Zn ferrites could be increased up to GHz ranges.

Due to its high permeability, Mn–Zn ferrite is the material of choice for high frequency applications up to a few MHz. At increased operational frequency, Ni–Zn ferrites are more suitable than Mn–Zn ferrites due to their low eddy current losses and low dielectric losses. To combine all these properties and to increase the operational frequency up to GHz, we have prepared Ni0.5Zn0.5CrxMn0.5−xFe1.5O4 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5), with a simplified sol gel method. Prepared samples show high saturation magnetization, low coercivity, and low dielectric loss. The dielectric loss in the frequency range 1 MHz to 1.3 GHz remained almost constant as the Cr content was increased in the samples. The crystallite size and lattice parameters of these samples were calculated from X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data analysis. The crystallite size for each sample was calculated using the Scherrer formula considering the most intense peak (3 1 1) and the results were compared with the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of these samples. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the single phase spinel structure for these samples. Wayne Kerr Precession Component Analyzer 6440B and Agilent E4991 Impedance Analyzer were used to study the dielectric constant (ε′) and the dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of these samples as a function of frequency in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz and 1 MHz to 1.29 GHz respectively. Quantum design PPMS model 6700 was used to study the magnetic properties of these samples.