Investigation of size dependent Curie temperature and magnetization of bismuth substituted zinc ferrite (ZnBi sub(x)Fe sub(2-x)O sub(4)) nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2016-05, Vol.27 (5), p.4699-4704
• Main Authors: Fesharaki, Marjaneh Jafari, Nabiyouni, Gholamreza, Aghamohamadi, Mansur, Ghanbari, Davood
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bismuth; Ferrite; Magnetic properties; Magnetization; Nanostructure; Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; Zinc
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-016-4349-0

The spinel zinc-bismuth ferrites with nominal composition of ZnBi sub(x)Fe sub(2-x)O sub(4) (x = 0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3) have been synthesized by ball milling technique. Commercially available bismuth, zinc and iron oxide powders were first mixed and then annealed at 1100 super( degree )C in an oxygen environment furnace for 10 h. The samples were then milled for 2 h in a Fritsch mille. The average grain size were estimated from the X-ray line broadening of the (311) reflection and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The micro and nanostructure investigation was carried out by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with maximum magnification of 20,000. Magnetic properties of the as-prepared ferrites were studied by means of alternating gradient force magneto-meter (AGFM) and Faraday balance measurement. An increasing bismuth content in ZnBi sub(x)Fe sub(2-x)O sub(4) leads to a decrease in the saturation magnetization, coercive field and Neel temperature. These results can be attributed to the substitution of Bi super(3+) ions in the ferrite system as nonmagnetic cations.