Structural and magnetic characterization of the Mg0.2−xSrxMn0.8Fe2O4 nanoparticles

• Mg0.2−xSrxMn0.8Fe2O4 nano-ferrites were prepared by the chemical method.
• XRD, IR and VSM techniques were used in this study.
• All deduced parameters were affected by Sr substitution x.
• Ms was dependent on P and R, while ν1 and ν2 were affected by a and Ms.
• The results point to the formation of ferromagnetically nano-clusters.

A series of as-prepared Mg0.2−xSrxMn0.8Fe2O4 nano-ferrites, 0≤x≤0.2, have been prepared by the chemical co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques were used to carry out this study. The results proved that samples are single-phase cubic spinel nanoferrites. The lattice constant a, crystallite size R, IR band positions and force constants proved the existence of ferromagnetically ordered nanoclusters. The density, theoretical density, porosity (P) and the crystallite size showed dependence on Sr2+ ion content x. Six absorption bands were observed in the IR spectra and were assigned to the corresponding site bonds. The saturation magnetization (Ms), coercivity, remnant magnetization, squareness and magnetic moment were x dependent. This study proved that Ms is strongly dependent on P and R, whereas the IR absorption bands ν1 and ν2 were affected by the variation of a and Ms.