Structure and magnetic properties evolution of cobalt–zinc ferrite with lithium substitution

LixCo0.5Zn0.5−xFe2O4 (0.0≤x≤0.3) is obtained by calcining precursor oxalates at 900 °C in air. The precursor and its calcined products are characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. A high-crystallized LixCo0.5Zn0.5−xFe2O4 with a cubic structure is obtained when the precursor is calcined at 900 °C in air for 3 h. Lattice parameters decrease with the increase of Li+ addition amount. The magnetic properties of LixCo0.5Zn0.5−xFe2O4 depend on Li+ doped amount and calcination temperature. Li0.3Co0.5Zn0.2Fe2O4 obtained at 900 °C has the highest specific saturation magnetization value, 70.24 emu/g. However, Li0.3Co0.5Zn0.2Fe2O4 obtained at 800 °C has the highest remanence (8.29 emu/g) and coercivity value (97.8 Oe).