Magnetic and Mössbauer studies of Ni substituted Li-Zn ferrite

Li-Zn ferrites substituted with Ni having the compositional formula Li0.4−0.5xZn0.2NixFe2.4−0.5xO4 where x=0.02⩽x⩽0.1 in steps of 0.02 were fabricated by the citrate precursor method. This method has been employed to get nanosized particles and good magnetic properties. The spinel phase structure of the prepared ferrites was confirmed by XRD analysis. The effect of Ni concentration on magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization and Curie temperature were investigated. A good knowledge of these magnetic properties is desirable from application point of view. The values observed are large and both quantities were found to decrease with substitution. The saturation magnetizations were found to vary from 78 to 94 emu/gm while the Curie temperature which limits the operating temperature of the system ranges between 563 and 584 °C. Mössbauer data were also recorded at room temperature and the hyperfine parameters like isomer shift, quadrupole splitting and internal magnetic field estimated. The results obtained and mechanisms involved are discussed.