Impacts of neodymium on structural, spectral and dielectric properties of LiNi0.5Fe2O4 nanocrystalline ferrites fabricated via micro-emulsion technique

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2015-09, Vol.73, p.169-174
• Main Authors: Gilani, Zaheer Abbas, Warsi, Muhammad Farooq, Khan, Muhammad Azhar, Shakir, Imran, Shahid, Muhammad, Anjum, Muhammad Naeem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dielectric properties; FTIR; Nano-ferrites; XRD
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2015.06.001

Soft ferrites are technologically advanced smart materials and their properties can be tailored by controlling the chemical composition and judicial choice of the metal elements. In this article we discussed the effect of rare earth neodymium (Nd3+) on various properties of LiNi0.5NdxFe2−xO4 spinel ferrites. These ferrites have been synthesized by facile micro-emulsion route and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a.c. electrical conductivity and thermal analysis. The influence of Nd3+ doping on structural and electrical parameters has been investigated. XRD analysis revealed the formation of single cubic spinel structure for x≤0.07. Few traces of secondary phase (NdFeO3) were found for x≥0.105. The secondary phase induced owing to the solubility limit of Nd3+ cations in these ferrites. The lattice parameter (a) and crystallite size (D) both exhibit non-linear relation. The values of “a” and “D” were found in the range 8.322–8.329Å and 25–32nm respectively. These variations were attributed to the larger ionic radius of Nd3+ cations as compared to the host cations and lattice strain produced in these ferrites. The dielectric parameters were studied in the range 1MHz to 3GHz and these parameters were damped by Nd3+ incorporation and also by increasing the frequency. The reduced dielectric parameters observed in wide frequency range proposed that these nanocrystalline ferrites are potential candidates for fabricating the devices which are required to operate at GHz frequencies. Nanocrystalline spinel ferrites LiNi0.5NdxFe2−xO4 fabricated via micro-emulsion route exhibited the crystallite size 20.99–32.2nm. The dielectric parameters are greatly influenced by the Nd incorporation and very small dielectric loss (~0.02) is exhibited by LiNi0.5Nd0.175Fe1.825O4. [Display omitted] •Micro-emulsion route is utilized to synthesize LiNi0.5NdxFe2−xO4 ferrites.•The crystallite size is found in the range 20.99 to 32.2nm.•The dielectric parameters are greatly influenced by the Nd incorporation.•A very small dielectric loss is exhibited for LiNi0.5Nd0.175Fe1.825O4.