Doping effect of Mn2+ on the magnetic behavior in Ni–Zn ferrite nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion

The ferrite samples of a chemical formula Ni0.5−xMnxZn0.5Fe2O4 (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion method. The synthesized samples were annealed at 600 °C for 4 h. An analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns reveals the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter increases linearly with increase in Mn content x. An initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease in saturation magnetization with increase in Mn content is observed showing inverse trend of coercivity (Hc). Curie temperature decreases with increase in Mn content x. The initial permeability is observed to increase with increase in Mn content up to x=0.3 followed by a decrease, the maximum value being 362. Possible explanation for the observed structural, magnetic, and changes of permeability behavior with various Mn content are discussed.