Electromagnetic properties of lithium zinc ferrites doped with aluminum

We present the results of the effect of Al substitution on the magnetic and electrical properties of Li_0.2Zn_0.6Fe_2.2−xAl_xO₄ ferrites (0.0≤x≤0.5) prepared by the standard ceramic technique. The characterization has been performed using XRD, SEM, magnetic and dielectric response in frequency. XRD analysis confirms that the system exhibits polycrystalline single phase cubic spinel structure only for low dopant content. Doping decreases the dielectric loss tangent and the ferrite conductivity in more than two orders of magnitude in the whole analyzed frequency range. Attenuation has a maximum intensity (86 dB) near 90 MHz for x=0.4. The wider bandwidth at 20 dB (94.6 MHz) is for x=0.3.     

Tailoring of structural, electrical and magnetic properties of BaCo2 W-type hexaferrites by doping with Zr-Mn binary mixtures for useful applications

Single-phase W-type hexaferrite, BaCo₂Fe_16−2x(ZrMn)_xO₂₇ (x=0.0-1.0), has been synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation technique. Mössbauer analysis indicates substitution of Zr ions on tetrahedral (4e and 4f_IV) sites and Mn ions on the octahedral ‘4f_VI site’ at low-doped concentration when the concentration is increased Mn ions but show preference for the octahedral ‘2b site’. The highest enhancement in the value of the room temperature resistivity of 2.82×10⁹ Ω cm has been obtained by doping with Zr-Mn content of x=0.6. The dissipation factor increases from 6.49×10³ to 9.97×10³ at 10 kHz with the addition of Zr-Mn dopants. Such materials are potentially suitable for electromagnetic attenuation purposes, for microwave absorption and as radar absorbing material. High values of saturation magnetization (67 emu/g) and remanent magnetization (34.7 emu/g) are obtained for substitution level of x=0.4 making them suitable for data processing devices.     

Zn- and Cu-substituted Co2Y hexagonal ferrites: Sintering behavior and permeability

Y-type polycrystalline hexagonal ferrites Ba₂Co_2−x−yZn_xCu_yFe₁₂O₂₂ with 0≤x≤2 and 0≤y≤0.8 were prepared by the mixed-oxide route. Single phase Y-type ferrite powders were obtained after calcinations at 1000 °C. Samples sintered at 1200 °C show a permeability that increases with the substitution of Zn for Co and display maximum permeability of μ′=35 at 1 MHz for x=1.6 and y=0.4. A resonance frequency f_r=500 MHz is observed for Zn-rich ferrites with y=0 and 0.4. The saturation magnetization increases with substitution of Zn for Co. Addition of Bi₂O₃ shifts the temperature of maximum shrinkage down to T≤950 °C. Moreover, an increase of the Cu-concentration further lowers the sintering temperature to T≤900 °C, enabling co-firing of the ferrites with Ag metallization for multilayer technologies. However, low-temperature firing reduces the permeability to μ′=10 and the resonance frequency is shifted to 1 GHz. Thus substituted hexagonal Y-type ferrites can be used as soft magnetic materials for multilayer inductors for high frequency applications.     

Magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Co1−xZnxFe2O4 prepared by forced hydrolysis method

Nanocrystalline zinc-substituted cobalt ferrite powders, Co_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4), were for the first time prepared by forced hydrolysis method. Magnetic and structural properties in these specimens were investigated. The average crystallite size is about 3.0 nm. When the zinc substitution increases from x=0 to x=0.4, at 4.2 K, the saturation magnetization increases from 72.1 to 99.7 emu/g and the coercive field decreases from 1.22 to 0.71 T. All samples are superparamagnetic at room temperature and ferrimagnetic at temperatures below the blocking temperature. The high value of the saturation magnetization and the very thin thickness of the disorder surface layer of all samples suggests that this forced hydrolysis method is suitable not only for preparing two metal element systems but also for three or more ones.     

Influence of Nb substitution for Fe on the magnetic and magneto-impedance properties of amorphous and annealed Fe76.5−xSi13.5B9Cu1Nbx (x=0–7) ribbons

We report a systematic study of the influence of Nb substitution for Fe on the magnetic properties and magneto-impedance (MI) effect in amorphous and annealed Fe_76.5−xSi_13.5B₉Cu₁Nb_x (x=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) ribbons. The amorphous ribbons were annealed at different temperatures ranging from 530 to 560 °C in vacuum for different annealing times between 5 and 20 min. We have found that for the as-quenched amorphous ribbons, the substitution of Nb for Fe first increases the saturation magnetization (M_s) and decreases the coercivity (H_c) until x=3, for which the largest M_s∼152 emu/g and the smallest H_c∼1.3 Oe are obtained, then an opposite trend is found for x>3. The largest MI ratio (ΔZ/Z∼38% at f=6 MHz) is achieved in the amorphous ribbon with x=3. A similar trend has been observed for the annealed ribbons. The most desirable magnetic properties (M_s∼156 emu/g and H_c∼1.8 Oe) and the largest MI ratio (ΔZ/Z∼221% at f=6 MHz) are achieved for the x=3 sample annealed at 540 °C for 15 min. A correlation between the microstructure, magnetic properties, and MI effect in the annealed ribbons has been established.     

Monodispersed nanocrystalline Co1–xZnxFe2O4 particles by forced hydrolysis: Synthesis and characterization

Zinc-substituted cobalt ferrites, Co_1–xZn_xFe₂O₄, were for the first time successfully prepared by forced hydrolysis method. The obtained materials are single phase, monodispersed nanocrystalline with an average grain size of about 3 nm. These materials are superparamagnetic at room temperature and ferrimagnetic at temperature lower than the blocking temperature. When the zinc substitution increases from x=0 to 0.4, at 4.2 K, the saturation magnetization increases from 72.1 to 99.7 emu/g. The high saturation magnetization of these samples suggests that this method is suitable for preparing high-quality nanocrystalline magnetic ferrites for practical applications.     

Improvement in magnetic properties of La substituted BaFe12O19 particles prepared with an unusually low Fe/Ba molar ratio

In this study, effect of lanthanum substitution on the phase composition, lattice parameters and magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite has been studied in samples synthesized in ammonium nitrate melt. Samples, prepared with different lanthanum amount and having various initial Fe/(Ba+La) ratios in between 12 and 2 {(Ba_1−xLa_x)·n Fe₂O₃, where 0≤x≤1 and 1≤n≤6)}, are sintered at temperatures from 800 to 1200 °C. The lattice parameters, both a and c, decreases with increasing La amount which results in a decrease of the unit cell volume. The scanning electron microscope micrographs show that the pure and La-substituted sample with x=0.3, both calcinated at 1000 °C, have grain sizes smaller than 1 μm. The coercivities of the La-substituted samples increase with increasing La amount and reaches to a maximum value of 5.73 kOe, when x=0.3. Sintering at higher temperatures (above 1000 °C) decreases the coercivity, resembling a transition from single to multi-domain behavior of the particles, while saturation magnetization of the samples continues to increase due to the increasing grain size. Magnetization measurements of the samples prepared with different Fe/(Ba+La) molar ratios, n's, revealed that the specific saturation magnetization slightly increases with decreasing n, while coercivities fluctuates around 5.5 kOe. However, a sharp increase in the saturation magnetization has been observed in the sample having n=1 and washed in HCl. It was measured as 59.2 emu/g at 15 kOe, which is higher than that of the pure sample (57.5 emu/g). Thus, the magnetic parameters are optimized in the sample Ba_0.7La_0.3Fe₁₂O₁₉ so as to maximize both coercivity and specific saturation magnetization in the HCl-washed sample synthesized by starting with an unusually low Fe/(Ba+La) molar ratio of 2 (or n=1).     

γ irradiation effect on the polarization and resistance of Li-Co-Yb-ferrite

The effect of γ irradiation on some physical properties of rare earth ferrite of the general formula Li_0.5+zCo_z Yb_xFe_2.5−2z−xO₄, (z=0.1, x=0.00, 0.025, 0.050, … , 0.200) is discussed. The temperature dependence of the polarization and resistance is studied in the range (300 K≤T≤700 K) at different frequencies (10 kHz≤f≤1 MHz). The relaxation time and the activation energy have been calculated before and after irradiation with γ rays doses of 1 and 3 Mrad. A comparison was made between the ac resistance before and after irradiation for the samples with (0.0≤x≤0.2). The results after irradiation with 1 Mrad γ rays showed that the resistance at the critical concentration decreases from 800 to 25 kΩ at room temperature. Furthermore, with increasing temperature the resistance ranged from R≈130 kΩ at T≈310 K to R≈0.13 kΩ at T≈640 K. Thus, it is possible to improve the conductivity of this type of rare earth ferrite materials to be used in technological applications at room as well as at high temperature.     

Electrical conductivity and complex electric modulus of titanium doped nickel-zinc ferrites

The samples Ni_1+x−yZn_yTi_x Fe_2−2xO₄; y=0.1, 0.0≤x≤0.5 were prepared in a single-phase spinel structure as indicated from X-ray analysis. Electrical conductivity and dielectric measurements at different temperatures from 300 K to 600 K in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 5 MHz have been analyzed. The relation of conductivity with temperature revealed a semiconductor to semimetallic behavior as Ti⁴⁺ concentration increases. The conduction mechanism depends mainly on the valence exchange between the different metal ions in the same site or in different sites. The dielectric constant as a function of temperature and frequency showed that there is a strong dependence on the compositional parameter x. The electrical modulus has been employed to study the relaxation dynamics of charge carriers. The result indicates the presence of correlation between motions of mobile ion charges. The activation energies extracted from M′(ω) and M″(ω) peaks are found to follow the Arrhenius law. The electrical conductance of the samples found to be dependent on the temperature and frequency.     

Synthesis and surface modified hard magnetic properties in Co0.5Pt0.5 nanocrystallites from a rheological liquid precursor

Small crystallites of a metastable phase Co_0.5Pt_0.5 are precipitated by heating a rheological liquid precursor of cobalt–hydrazine complex and platinum chloride H₂PtCl₆·xH₂O in polymer molecules of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) in ethylene glycol. The hydrazine co-reduces nascent atoms from the Co²⁺ and Pt⁴⁺ that recombine and grow as Co_0.5Pt_0.5. The PVP molecules cap a growing Co_0.5Pt_0.5 as it achieves a critical size so that it stops growing further in given conditions. X-ray diffraction pattern of a recovered powder reveals a crystalline Co_0.5Pt_0.5 phase (average crystallite size D∼8 nm) of a well-known Fm3m-fcc crystal structure with the lattice parameter a=0.3916 nm (density ρ=14.09 g/cm³). A more ordered L1₀ phase (ρ=15.91 g/cm³) transforms (D≥25 nm) upon annealing the powder at temperature lesser than 700 °C (in vacuum). At room temperature, the virgin crystallites bear only a small saturation magnetization M_s=5.54 emu/g (D=8 nm) of a soft magnet and it hardly grows on bigger sizes (D≤31 nm) in a canted ferromagnetic structure. A rectangular hysteresis loop is markedly expanded on an optimally annealed L1₀ phase at 800 °C for 60 min, showing a surface modified coercivity H_c=7.781 kOe with remnant ratio M_r/M_s=0.5564, and M_s=39.75 emu/g. Crystallites self-assembled in an acicular shape tailor large H_c from ideal single domains and high magnetocrystalline anisotropy of a hard magnet L1₀ phase.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of MnxBi100−x (x=48, 50, 55 and 60) compounds

Mn_xBi_100−x (x=48, 50, 55 and 60) alloys were prepared by the induction melting technique, and subjected to melt spinning and subsequent ball milling. XRD shows that the as-milled powders were mainly composed of LTP MnBi. Increasing melt spinning speed and reducing annealing treatment time can restrain the segregation of Mn from MnBi liquid during the peritectic reaction, which increases the LTP MnBi content. High energy ball milling results in the coercivity increase of MnBi powders. With increasing milling time, the coercivity increases initially and then decreases gradually. After ball milling for 4 h, the coercivity of the Mn_xBi_100−x powders is 11.4 kOe for x=48 and 14.8 kOe for x=55. The optimal composition of Mn₄₈Bi₅₂ with more LTP has an M_2.2 T of 49.98 emu/g and an M_r of 33.57 emu/g.     

Structure and RT ferromagnetism of Fe-doped AlN films

Al_1−xFe_xN_1−δ thin films with 0 ≤ x ≤ 13.6% were deposited by dc magnetron co-sputtering at room temperature (RT). It is found that Fe atom will substitutes the Al atom in the lattice when x ≤ 1.2%, while it will embed into the interstice of the lattice at larger Fe content. RT ferromagnetism was observed in all doped samples. A maximum saturated magnetization 2.81 emu/cm³ of the film is found to be induced by AlFeN ternary alloy when x = 1.2%.     

Magnetic properties and room-temperature magnetocaloric effect in the doped antipervoskite compounds Ga1−xAlxCMn3 (0≤x≤0.15)

We report the effects of Al doping on the structure, magnetic properties, and magnetocaloric effect of antiperovskite compounds Ga_1−xAl_xCMn₃ (0≤x≤0.15). Partial substitutions of Al for Ga enhance the Curie temperature (from 250 K for x=0.0 to 312 K for x=0.15) and the saturation magnetization. On increasing the doping level x, the maximum values of the magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M) decreases while the temperature span of −ΔS_M vs. T plot broadens. Furthermore, the relative cooling power (RCP) is also studied. For 20 kOe, the RCP value tends to saturate at a high doping level (for x=0.12, 119 J/kg at 296 K). However, at 45 kOe, the RCP value increases quickly with increasing x (for x=0.15, 293 J/kg at 312 K). Considering the relatively large RCP and inexpensive raw materials, Ga_1−xAl_xCMn₃ may be alternative candidates for room-temperature magnetic refrigeration.     

Magnetic and transport property studies of nanocrystalline ZnxFe3−xO4

The magnetic and transport properties of nanocrystalline Zn_xFe_3−xO₄ with x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0, respectively, fabricated by the sol-gel method have been investigated. Large magnetoresistance (MR) was observed and found to be originated both from the tunneling of the spin-polarized electrons across the adjacent ferromagnetic grains and the scattering by the canted spins at the grain surface near the grain boundaries. It has been revealed that the MR for the Zn_xFe_3−xO₄ samples (x=0, 0.5 and 1.0) increases with the temperature decreasing from room temperature until a maximum is reached at around 55 K. Then a sharp drop occurs with the further decrease in temperature, regarded as a spin (cluster) glass transition. For the samples studied, a biggest low field (0.5 T) MR value of about 20% for x=0 at 55 K has been obtained. The mechanism of the MR behavior of the materials was discussed.     

Ni–Zn–Sm nanopowder ferrites: Morphological aspects and magnetic properties

Ni–Zn ferrites have been widely used in components for high-frequency range applications due to their high electrical resistivity, mechanical strength and chemical stability. Ni–Zn ferrite nanopowders doped with samarium with a nominal composition of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe_2−xSm_xO₄ (x=0.0, 0.05, and 0.1 mol) were obtained by combustion synthesis using nitrates and urea as fuel. The morphological aspects of Ni–Zn–Sm ferrite nanopowders were investigated by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption by BET, sedimentation, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic properties. The results indicated that the Ni–Zn–Sm ferrite nanopowders were composed of soft agglomerates of nanoparticles with a high surface area (55.8–64.8 m²/g), smaller particles (18–20 nm) and nanocrystallite size particles. The addition of samarium resulted in a reduction of all the magnetic parameters evaluated, namely saturation magnetization (24–40 emu/g), remanent magnetization (2.2–3.5 emu/g) and coercive force (99.3–83.3 Oe).     

Minimizing of power loss in Li-Cd ferrite by nickel substitution for power applications

The effect of Ni substitution on the microstructure, dielectric, impedance, magnetic and power loss properties has been investigated on a series of Li_0.35-0.5xCd_0.3Ni_xFe_2.35-0.5xO₄ (0.00≤x≤0.08) ferrite prepared by citrate precursor method. Dielectric and impedance measurements have been determined in the frequency range 100 Hz-10 MHz. An enhancement in permittivity was observed with Ni concentration and exhibits the maximum value of ∼7×10³ for x=0.02 sample. The impedance spectroscopy technique has been used to study the effect of grain and grain boundary on the electrical properties of all the samples. Power loss measurements have been carried out in the frequency range 50 kHz-5 MHz at induction condition of B=10 mT. Power loss has been found to be quite low, less than 100 kW/m³ up to 500 kHz, with the substitution of Ni in Li_0.35-0.5xCd_0.3Ni_xFe_2.35-0.5xO₄ ferrite, which is useful for technological aspects.     

Permeability and electric resistivity of spin-sprayed Zn ferrite films for high-frequency device applications

By spin-spray ferrite plating, an aqueous process, we prepared Zn_xFe_3−xO₄ (0?x?0.97) films at 90 °C on polyimide and glass substrates, on which complex permeability (μ=μ′–jμ″) was measured. As Zn content x increases from 0 to 0.70 static permeability, μ_s, increases from 14 to 119, but natural resonance frequency, f_r, reduces from 1 GHz to 200 MHz. This is because magnetic anisotropy field decreases more rapidly than saturation magnetization. With increasing x DC electric resistivity, ρ, increases, exceeding 50 Ω cm (a measure of the lower limit for the high-frequency application) when x>0.15. Film with x=0.70 has relatively high μ′≈119 and μ″=0 up to 20 MHz, and is promising to be used as MHz core inductors. Film with x=0.36 has relatively high μ′=80 and μ″=0 up to 100 MHz, and it may be used as inductors at the ten MHz range and noise suppression sheets at the hundred MHz range.     

Magnetic studies of Li-Zn ferrites prepared by citrate precursor method

Ferrites having the general formula Li_0.5−0.5xZn_xFe_2.5−0.5xO₄ where 0≤x≤0.6 in steps of 0.2 were prepared by the citrate precursor method. The Curie temperature measured shows a decrease with increasing Zn concentration. Experimental results show that the room temperature initial permeability increases with the increase in the concentration of zinc. The initial permeability has also been studied as a function of frequency in the range of 100 Hz-1 MHz. The real part of initial permeability referred as initial permeability and the imaginary part of initial permeability better known as permeability loss show dispersion with frequency. Possible mechanism contributing to the above processes is discussed.     

Influence of aluminum doping in Li–Co–Ti ferrite

The crystallographic and magnetic properties of low aluminum doped lithium cobalt titanium ferrites, Li_0.5Co_0.2Ti_0.2Al_xFe_2.1−xO₄(0.0≤x≤0.5), in the scope of spinel structure and ferrimagnetic property were investigated. Ferrites were doped with aluminum in the range of 0.0–0.5 and were synthesized by using the conventional ceramic methods. Using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, we confirmed the formation of crystallized particles. All of the samples showed a single phase with a spinel structure, and the lattice parameters linearly decreased as the doped aluminum content was increased. The particle size of the samples also decreased as the doped aluminum content increased. Until x=0.4 in Li_0.5Co_0.2Ti_0.2Al_xFe_2.1−xO₄, the Mössbauer spectra could be fitted with two Zeeman sextets, which is the typical spinel ferrite spectra of Fe³⁺ with A- and B-sites. However, for x=0.5, the Mössbauer spectrum could be fitted with two Zeeman sextets and one doublet. From the variation of the Mössbauer parameters and the absorption area ratio, the cation distributions were determined. The magnetic behavior of the samples showed that an increase in the aluminum contents led to a decrease in the saturation magnetization, whereas the coercivity decreased until x=0.4 and then increased. The minimum coercivity was 52.4 Oe at x=0.4 in Li_0.5Co_0.2Ti_0.2Al_xFe_2.1−xO₄.     

B and Pt NMR study of the superconductors Li2(Pd1−xPtx)3B without inversion symmetry

We report the ¹¹B and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR measurements in non-centrosymmetric superconductors Li₂(Pd_1−xPt_x)₃B (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0). From the measurements of spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁), we found that there was a coherence peak (CP) just below superconducting transition temperature (T_c) for x = 0–0.5 but no CP in x = 1. We demonstrated that the system for x = 0–0.5 were BCS superconductors but there existed line node in the superconducting gap for x = 1.0. The ¹⁹⁵Pt Knight Shift in x = 0.2 decreased below T_c, indicating spin-singlet state. The results showed that BCS superconducting state evolves into an exotic state with line-nodes in the gap function when x is increased, as the spin–orbit coupling is enhanced.