Production and characterization of nano-magnetic Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 spinel solid solution

•Preparation of nanosized Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 system by simple method.•Characterization of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 system by different techniques to confirm the formation of single phase.•Determination of the magnetic properties of the as prepared Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 system.•Using the SEM and EDX to determine the element gradient and the homogeneity of particles.•The possibility of the control in the magnetic properties.

Nickel–zinc ferrite (Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) was prepared using facile method. Characterization of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 was achieved using different various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron micrographs (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The structural parameters of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 such as crystallite size, lattice constant, unit cell volume and theoretical density have been determined. XRD and IR measurements confirm formation of single spinel Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 phase. SEM technique was used to investigate the morphology characteristics of the investigated solid. It was found that the as synthesized ferrite was spongy, homogeneous and fragile. Also, EDX technique showed the concentrations of O, Ni, Fe and Zn species involved in Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 specimen from the uppermost surface to the bulk layers indicating to the elements gradient. The saturation magnetization (Ms), remanence magnetization (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) of the as synthesized composite were 57 emu/g, 10 emu/g and 58 Oe, respectively.