Structural and magnetic properties of Ni0.8Co0.2−2xCuxMnxFe2O4 spinel ferrites prepared via solution combustion route

Ni0.8Co0.2−2xCuxMnxFe2O4 ferrites (with x=0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09) were prepared using solution combustion route. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the presence of the characteristic most intense (311) peak along with other reflections confirming the formation of spinel ferrite in each composition. SEM images show formation of porous structured agglomerates with submicron sized grains. The microstrain measurement of ferrite series is non-linear with variation in dopant concentration for a given magnetic field. The magnetic hysteresis at room temperature indicates the ferrimagnetic behavior of synthesized ferrite system. The magnetic and mechanical properties were seen to be comparatively higher for x=0.07 composition. The presence of sexset in Mössbauer spectra confirms the ferrimagnetic nature of all the ferrites.