Fluctuation in occupancy of Cu2+ ions in Zn- and Cd-substituted Cu-ferrites

Mössbauer effect technique has been used for the comparative study of Cu_1?x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ and Cu_1?x Cd _x Fe₂O₄ ( _x = 0.0?1.0) ferrites. Both Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations are divalent, non-magnetic ions with different ionic radii. With the substitution of these non-magnetic cations the average internal magnetic field decreases and paramagnetic behavior is dominated at x = 0.7 in both series. It is observed that the occupancy of Cu²⁺ ions for tetrahedral site is not constant for all compositions but fluctuate between 8–15%. It is also found that Cu²⁺ ions have more preference for tetrahedral site in Cu-Zn system as compared to the Cu-Cd system. Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ both ions occupy tetrahedral site completely and form normal spinels for x = 1.0.