Effect of Ni substitution on the structural and transport properties of NixMn0.8−xMg0.2Fe2O4; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.40 ferrite

NixMn0.8−xMg0.2Fe2O4; 0.0≤ x ≤0.40 was prepared by standard ceramic technique, presintering was carried out at 900 °C and final sintering at 1200 °C with heating/cooling rate 4 °C/min. X-ray diffraction analyses assured the formation of the samples in a single phase spinel cubic structure. The calculated crystal size was obtained in the range of 75–130 nm. A slight increase in the theoretical density and decrease in the porosity was obtained with increasing the nickel content. This result was discussed based on the difference in the atomic masses between Ni (58.71) and Mn (54.938). IR spectral analyses show four bands of the spinel ferrite for all the samples. The conductivity and dielectric loss factor give nearly continuous decrease with increasing Ni-content. This was discussed as the result of the significant role of the multivalent cations, such as iron, nickel, manganese, in the conduction mechanism. Anomalous behavior was obtained for the sample with x = 0.20 as highest dielectric constant, highest dielectric loss and highest conductivity. This anomalous behavior was explained due to the existence of two divalent cations on B-sites with the same ratio, namely, Mg2+ and Ni2+.

Research highlightsWe aimed to merge the advantages of both Ni and Mn ferrites and to profit from the existence of Mg in small constant ratio to assure the large magnetization of the ferrite under investigation. To achieve such goals one have to investigate the effect of Ni substitution on the structural and electrical properties of Mn–Mg ferrite of the chemical formula NixMn0.8−xMg0.2Fe2O4; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.40 prepared by conventional ceramic technique.