Synthesis and characterization of MnFe2O4-BiFeO3 multiferroic composites

The mixed spinel-perovskite composites of xMnFe₂O₄-(1-x)BiFeO₃ with x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 were prepared by solid state reaction method. The structure and grain size were examined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The XRD results showed that the composites consisted of spinel MnFe₂O₄ and perovskite BiFeO₃ phases after being calcined at the temperature 950 °C for 2 h. The grain size ranged from 0.8 to 1 μm. Magnetization was found to increase with increasing concentration of ferrite content. The variation of dielectric constant and dielectric loss with frequency showed dispersion in the low frequency range. Magnetocapacitance was also observed in the prepared composites, which may be the sign of magnetoelectric coupling in the synthesized composites at room temperature.     

Fabrication and electromagnetic properties of flake ferrite particles based on diatomite

Hexagonal ferrite BaZn_1.1Co_0.9Fe₁₆O₂₇ coated surfaces of diatomite flakes of low density were synthesized by a sol-gel method. The phase structures, morphologies, particle size and chemical compositions of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that hexagonal ferrite coated diatomite flakes can be achieved, and that the coating consisted of BaZn_1.1Co_0.9Fe₁₆O₂₇ nanoparticles. The vibranting sample magnetometer results reveal that the flake ferrite particles have static magnetic properties. The complex permeability and permittivity of the composites were measured in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz. The microwave absorption properties of these ferrite particles are discussed. The results indicate that the flake ferrites have the potential to be used as a lightweight broad band microwave absorber.     

Synthesis, infrared and microwave absorbing properties of (BaFe12O19+BaTiO3)/polyaniline composite

The (BaFe₁₂O₁₉+BaTiO₃)/polyaniline composite was synthesized by in situ polymerization and introduced into epoxy resin and polyethylene to be a microwave and infrared absorber. The spectroscopic characterizations of the formation processes of (BaFe₁₂O₁₉+BaTiO₃)/polyaniline composite were examined using Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron spin resonance. Microwave absorbing properties were investigated by measuring reflection loss in 2-18 and 18-40 GHz microwave frequency range using the free space method. Thermal extinction measurements in the 3-5 and 8-12 μm were done to evaluate the shielding effectivity of infrared. The results showed that a significant absorption frequency range shifting and thermal extinction could be obtained by adding polyaniline to the BaFe₁₂O₁₉+BaTiO₃ blend.     

Preparation, magnetic and electromagnetic properties of polyaniline/strontium ferrite/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite

Strontium ferrite particles were firstly prepared by sol-gel method and self-propagating synthesis, and then the polyaniline/strontium ferrite/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites were synthesized through in situ polymerization approach. Structure, morphology and properties of the composite were characterized by various instruments. XRD analysis shows that the output of PANI increases with the increase of the content of MWCNTs, due to the large surface area of MWCNTs. Because of the coating of PANI, the outer diameter of MWCNTs increases from 10 nm to 20-40 nm. The electrical conductivity of the composites increases with the amount increase of MWCNTs and reaches 7.2196 S/cm in the presence of 2 g MWCNTs. The coercive force of the composites prepared with 2 g MWCNTs is 7457.17 Oe, which is much bigger than that of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ particles 6145.6 Oe, however, both the saturation magnetization and the remanent magnetization of the composite become much smaller than those of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ particles. The electromagnetic properties of the composite are excellent in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz, which mainly depend on the dielectric loss in the range of 2-9 GHz, and mainly on the magnetic loss in the range of 9-18 GHz.     

Synthesis, characterization and microwave absorption properties of titania-coated barium ferrite composites

Anatase titania-coated barium ferrite composites were prepared by a heterogeneous precipitation method in the presence of barium ferrite particles. The obtained samples were characterized by ξ-pH, TEM, EDX and XRD. The complex permittivity and permeability were studied in the frequency range of 2-12 GHz. The structure and microwave response properties are investigated. The results show that the coverage of titania has a great influence on microwave response of barium ferrite. The formation of an anatase titania nano-layer on the surface of a barium ferrite particle changes the character of the frequency dispersion of the complex permittivity. Comparing the anatase titania-coated barium ferrite composites with the uncoated barium ferrite, the complex permittivity of the anatase titania-coated barium ferrite composites is higher than that of uncoated barium ferrite. The complex permeability of composites was found to decrease with an increase in frequency as well as with the molar ratio of Ti:Ba. The enhancement of the complex permittivity may be due to dipolar polarization and interfacial polarization. The maximum reflection loss was obtained at the Ti:Ba ratio of 1:10, and the peak of the maximum reflection loss shifts to a lower frequency value with increasing titania fraction. By changing the thickness of titania coverage, the frequency dependence of the complex permittivity could be adjusted, which provides us an opportunity for the synthesis of tailored particles.     

Microwave anneal effect on magnetic properties of Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nano-particles prepared by conventional hydrothermal method

Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ ferrite nano-particles with a crystallite size of about 20 nm were prepared by the conventional hydrothermal method, followed by annealing in a microwave oven for 7.5-15 min. The microstructure and magnetic properties of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The microwave annealing process has slight effect on the morphology and size of Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ ferrite nano-particles. However it reduces the lattice parameter and enhances the densification of the particles, and then greatly increases the saturation magnetization (50-56 emu/g) and coercive force of the samples as compared to the non-annealing condition. The microwave annealing process is an effective way to rapidly synthesize high performance ferrite nano-particle.     

Preparation and microwave-absorbing properties of NiFe2O4-polystyrene composites

NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by the polyacrylamide gel method with acrylamide as the monomer and N,N′-methylenediacrylamide as lattice agent. The average crystallite sizes of the nickel ferrites annealed at 500, 600 and 800 °C are about 10, 30 and 50 nm, respectively. Ferrite-polystyrene composites were made by hot pressing, and microwave-absorbing properties of the composites with different contents of 35, 45, 55 and 65 wt% ferrite were investigated by testing complex permeability and complex permittivity in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) frequency range. All the parameters, ε′, ε″, μ′ and μ″, increase with increasing ferrite content. The reflection losses were calculated based on a model of a single-layered plane wave absorber backed by a perfect conductor. The composite with 65 wt% ferrite content shows a minimum reflection loss of −13 dB at 11.5 GHz with a −10 dB bandwidth over the extended frequency range of 10.3-13 GHz for an absorber thickness of 2 mm.     

The structure and magnetotransport properties of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/Ba(La)TiO3 composites

The effect of Ba(La)TiO₃ doping on the structure and magnetotransport properties of La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃(LSMO)/xBa(La)TiO₃ (x=0.0, 1.0, 5.0 mol%) have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction patterns and microstructural analysis show that BaTiO₃ and LSMO phases exist independently in BaTiO₃-doped composites. The metal-insulator transition temperature (T_MI) decreases whereas the maximum resistivity increases very quickly by the increase of BaTiO₃ doping level. The partial substitution of Ba by La(0.35 mol%) results in a decrease in resistivity of LSMO/xBa(La)TiO₃ composites. Magnetoresistance of BaTiO₃-doped composites decreases monotonously in the temperature range 200-400 K in a magnetic field of 5 T, which is completely different from that of LSMO compound. The value of MR decreases at low field (H<1 T) and increases at high fields (H>1 T) with increasing the BaTiO₃ doping level at low temperatures below 280 K. These investigations reveal that the magnetotransport properties of LSMO/xBa(La)TiO₃ composites are dominated by spin-dependent scattering and tunneling effect at the LSMO/BaTiO₃/LSMO magnetic tunnel junction.     

Piezoelectric, dielectric and magnetic properties of (1-x)Pb[Zr, Ti, (Mg1/2W1/2), (Ni1/3Nb2/3)]O3+x(Ni, Co, Cu)FeO4 composites

The phase structure, microstructure, piezoelectric properties, dielectric characteristic and the ME effect of magnetoelectric Pb[Zr_0.23Ti_0.36+0.02(Mg_1/2W_1/2)+0.39(Ni_1/3Nb_2/3)]O₃ (PZT)+xNi_0.8Co_0.1Cu_0.1Fe₂O₄ (NCCF) composite ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method. The structural analysis of both the constituent phases and their composites was carried out by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed cubic spinel structure for ferrite phase and tetragonal perovskite structure for ferroelectric phase. The piezoelectric constant, dielectric constant, Curie temperature, remanent polarization and coercive electric field decreased with increase of ferrite content. The coercive field strength, saturation magnetization and remanent magnetization increased with increasing ferrite content.     

Microwave reflection properties of planar anisotropy Fe50Ni50 powder/paraffin composites

The reflection properties of planar anisotropy Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ powder/paraffin composites have been studied in the microwave frequency range. The permeability of Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ powder/paraffin composites is greatly enhanced by introducing the planar anisotropy, and can be further enhanced by using a rotational orientation method. The complex permeability can be considered as the superposition of two types of magnetic resonance. The resonance peak at high frequency is attributed to the natural resonance, while the peak at low frequency is attributed to the domain-wall resonance. The simulated results of the microwave reflectivity show that the matching thickness, peak frequency, permeability, and permittivity are closely related to the quarter wavelength matching condition. The Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ powder/paraffin composites can be attractive candidates for thinner microwave absorbers in the L-band (1-2 GHz).     

Magnetic properties of xNi0.53Cu0.12Zn0.35Fe1.88O4+(1−x)BaTiO3 nanocomposites

The nanocrystalline Ni_0.53Cu_0.12Zn_0.35Fe_1.88O₄ and BaTiO₃ powders were prepared using Microwave-Hydrothermal (M-H) method at 160 °C/45 min. The as synthesized powders were characterized using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The size of the powders that were synthesized using M-H system was found to be ∼30 and ∼50 nm for ferrite phase and ferroelectric phases, respectively. The powders were densified using microwave sintering method at 900 °C/30 min. The ferrite and ferroelectric phases were observed from XRD and morphology of the composites was observed with the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).The magnetic hysteresis loops were recorded using the Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM).The frequency dependence of real (μ′) and imaginary (μ″) parts of permeability was measured in the range of 1 MHz-1.8 GHz. The permeability decreases with an increase of BaTiO₃ content at 1 MHz. The transition temperature (T_C) of ferrite was found to be 245 °C. The T_C of composite materials decreases with an increase in BaTiO₃ content.     

Synthesis and characterization of NiCoMnCuFe1.96O4 for circulator application

Modern accelerator design practice includes the use of high-quality ferrites for circulator applications with ever-increasing requirements on power handling ability. Modeling studies of new designs are of increasing economic importance, but are frequently hindered by lack of measured values of the ceramic loss factors. We have developed a nanocrystalline ferrite material with composition Ni_0.94Co_0.03Mn_0.04Cu_0.03Fe_1.96O₄. Nanocrystalline NiCoMnCu ferrite powders were synthesized using a microwave-hydrothermal method at 160 °C for 40 min. The ferrite formation conditions, such as pH, temperature and time, were optimized. The phase of the samples was identified by X-ray diffraction and was characterized by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. The size of the nanocrystalline ferrite of as-synthesized powders was 10 nm. The powder was densified at different temperatures using a microwave sintering method. The complex permittivity and permeability of the sintered samples were measured over a frequency range from 10 kHz to 1.8 GHz at room temperature. The applicability of the samples for circulators was tested via the measurement of the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth and the results are presented.     

Structural and magnetic properties of NiCuZn ferrite/SiO2 nanocomposites

Ni_0.53Cu_0.12Zn_0.35Fe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanocomposites with different weight percentages of NiCuZn ferrite dispersed in silica matrix were prepared by microwave-hydrothermal method using tetraethylorthosilicate as a precursor of silica, and metal nitrates as precursors of NiCuZn ferrite. The structure and morphology of the composites were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The structural changes in these samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer in the range of 400-1500 cm⁻¹. The bands in the range of 580-880 cm⁻¹ show a slight increase in intensity, which could be ascribed to the enhanced interactions between the NiCuZnFe₂O₄ clusters and silica matrix. The effects of silica content and sintering temperature on the magnetic properties of Ni_0.53Cu_0.12Zn_0.35Fe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanocomposites have been studied using electron spin resonance and vibrating sample magnetometer.     

Magnetoelectric characterization of xNi0.75Co0.25Fe2O4-(1−x)BiFeO3 nanocomposites

Magnetoelectric (ME) nanocomposites containing Ni_0.75Co_0.25Fe₂O₄-BiFeO₃ phases were prepared by citrate sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed phase formation of xNi_0.75Co_0.25Fe₂O₄-(1−x)BiFeO₃ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) composites on heating at 700 °C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of powders of nano order size and the crystal size was found to vary from 30 to 85 nm. Dispersion in dielectric constant (ε) and dielectric loss (tan δ) in the low-frequency range have been observed. It is seen that nanocomposites exhibit strong magnetic properties and a large ME effect. On increasing Ni_0.75Co_0.25Fe₂O₄ contents in the nanocomposites, the saturation magnetization (M_S) and coercivity (H_C) increased after annealing at 700 °C. The large ME output in the nanocomposites exhibits strong dependence on magnetic bias and magnetic field frequency. The large value of ME output can be attributed to small grain size of ferrite phase of nanocomposite being prepared by citrate precursor process.     

Magnetic and dielectric properties of Ni0.8Co0.1Cu0.1Fe2O4+PZT composites

Magnetoelectric composites of Ni_0.8Co_0.1Cu_0.1Fe₂O₄ and Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) were prepared by using conventional ceramic method. The measured values of saturation magnetization (M_s) and magnetic moments (μ_B) are in accordance with the volume fraction of ferrite content in the composite. The dielectric constant of the composites decreases with frequency. The plots of dielectric constant () against temperature (T) show a peak at their respective transition temperatures. The ME output was measured by varying dc bias magnetic field. A large ME output signal of 776 mV/cm was observed for 35% ferrite +65% ferroelectric composite. The magnetoelectric (ME) response is found to be dependent on the content of ferrite phase.     

Effect of shape of Fe3Al particles on their microwave permeability and absorption properties

Flake-shaped and sphere-shaped Fe₃Al powder-paraffine composites have been studied in the microwave frequency range. Mössbauer results show that the flake-shaped Fe₃Al particles have easy magnetization plane, which indicates that it is planar-anisotropy. Enhanced permeability is achieved in flake-shaped Fe₃Al compared with the sphere-shaped Fe₃Al. The permeability is further enhanced by using a rotational orientation method. The complex permeability can be characterized by the superposition of two types of magnetic resonance. The resonance peak at high frequency is attributed to the natural resonance, while the peak at low frequency is attributed to the domain-wall resonance. By employing the shape effect and the rotational orientation, the peak frequency of reflection loss for the oriented sample was adjusted to L-band. The planar-anisotropy Fe₃Al powder-paraffine composite can be attractive candidates for thinner microwave absorbers in L-band (1-2 GHz).     

Electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties of Fe3O4 magnetic films plated on hollow glass spheres

Magnetic hollow spheres of low density were prepared by plating Fe₃O₄ magnetic films on hollow glass spheres using ferrite plating. The complex permeability and permittivity of spheres–wax composites were measured in the range of 2–18 GHz. The complex permeability and permittivity increased, and the dielectric and magnetic losses were improved as the volume fraction of the magnetic spheres in the composites increased from 60% to 80%, which also resulted in a great improvement of microwave absorption properties. For composites with volume fraction 80%, its magnetic resonance frequency was at about 13 GHz and it appeared three loss peaks in the calculated reflection loss curves; the bandwidth less than −10 dB was almost 4 GHz which was just in the Ku-band frequencies (12–18 GHz) and a minimum reflection loss of −20 dB was obtained when the thickness was 2.6 mm; the microwave absorbing properties were mainly due to the magnetic loss. The results showed that the magnetic spheres composites were good and light microwave absorbers in the Ku-band frequencies.     

Dependence of microwave absorption properties on ferrite volume fraction in MnZn ferrite/rubber radar absorbing materials

We report the analysis of measurements of the complex magnetic permeability (μ_r) and dielectric permittivity (ε_r) spectra of a rubber radar absorbing material (RAM) with various MnZn ferrite volume fractions. The transmission/reflection measurements were carried out in a vector network analyzer. Optimum conditions for the maximum microwave absorption were determined by substituting the complex permeability and permittivity in the impedance matching equation. Both the MnZn ferrite content and the RAM thickness effects on the microwave absorption properties, in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz, were evaluated. The results show that the complex permeability and permittivity spectra of the RAM increase directly with the ferrite volume fraction. Reflection loss calculations by the impedance matching degree (reflection coefficient) show the dependence of this parameter on both thickness and composition of RAM.     

Structural and magnetic properties of sol-gel Co2xNi0.5−x Zn0.5−xFe2O4 thin films

Nanocrystalline Co_2xNi_0.5−xZn_0.5−xFe₂O₄ (x=0−0.5) thin films have been synthesized with various grain sizes by a sol-gel method on polycrystalline silicon substrates. The morphology as well as magnetic and microwave absorption properties of the films calcined at 1073 K were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. All films were uniform without microcracks. The Co content in the Co-Ni-Zn films resulted in a grain size ranging from 15 to 32 nm while it ranged from 33 to 49 nm in the corresponding powders. Saturation and remnant magnetization increased with increase in grain size, while coercivity demonstrated a drop due to multidomain behavior of crystallites for a given value of x. Saturation magnetization increased and remnant magnetization had a maximum as a function of grain size independent of x. In turn, coercivity increased with x independent of grain size. Complex permittivity of the Co-Ni-Zn ferrite films was measured in the frequency range 2-15 GHz. The highest hysteretic heating rate in the temperature range 315-355 K was observed in CoFe₂O₄. The maximum absorption band shifted from 13 to 11 GHz as cobalt content increased from x=0.1 to 0.2.     

Synthesis and microwave absorption properties of graphene-oxide(GO)/polyaniline nanocomposite with Fe3O4 particles

In order to investigate the impedance matching properties of microwave absorbers,the ternary nanocomposites of GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄（GPF） are prepared via a two-step method,GO/PANI composites are synthesized by dilute polymerization in the presence of aniline monomer and GO,and GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ is prepared via a co-precipitation method.The obtained nanocomposites are characterized by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,X-ray diffraction（XRD）,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）,respectively.The microwave absorbability reveals enhanced microwave absorption properties compared with GO,PANI,and GO/PANI.The maximum reflection loss of GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ is up to-27 dB at 14 GHz with its thickness being 2 mm,and its absorption bandwidths exceeding-10 dB are more than 11.2 GHz with its thickness values being in the range from 1.5 mm-4 mm.It provides that GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ can be used as an attractive candidate for microwave absorbers.