Microwave-assisted synthesis and magneto-electrical properties of Mg-Zn ferrimagnetic oxide nanostructures

The structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Mg-Zn mixed ferrimagnetic oxides are studied and reported with an aim to know the role of non-magnetic Zn2+ in modification of the properties. Ferrites with the general formula Mg1−xZnxFe2O4 (MZF) where 'x' varies from 0.0 to 0.5 were synthesized by microwave assisted sol-gel combustion method. Effects on the magnetic and electrical properties caused by changes in surface morphology, grain size, grain boundary, and micro-strain on account of Zn2+-substitution have been explored in-depth. These effects reveal considerable variations in coercive force, saturation magnetization and residual magnetization values obtained from hysteresis curves of MgFe2O4 on Zn2+ substitution. The effects of temperature and frequency on dielectric properties are investigated and reported.