Abstract:
A series of Co1-xZnxFe2O4 ferrite(x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) compositions were synthesized
using the standard double sintering ceramic technique, sintered at 1050°C for 2 hours.
Substituting Zn in place of Co influenced the structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of
CoFe2O4samples. Structural analyses were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRay
diffraction pattern confirmed the single-phase cubic spinel structure and the sharp peak
revealed that the samples are in good crystalline form. The lattice parameters were calculated for
each composition and found to increase with Zn substitution. A significant increase in density
and subsequent decrease in porosity were observed with increasing Zn content. The grain size of
the samples was reduced by enhancing the Zn concentration. The dielectric constant (ε′) of the
sample is found to decrease with increase in frequency exhibiting normal dielectric behavior.
Dielectric relaxation peaks were observed for the frequency dependence of dielectric loss tangent
curves. The observed dielectric properties were explained on the basis of electron conduction
mechanism. The variation of the resistivity versus temperature was also studied and the dielectric
constant of the system has a variation quite similar to that of the resistivity. Vibrating Sample
Magnetometer measurement confirmed that the magnetizations of all the samples were saturated.
Saturation magnetization and coercivity were estimated with variation of Zn content. These
effects are due to facilitation of demagnetization by substitution of the non-magnetic Zn ions.
Permeability was found to decrease with increase in Zn content. Cobalt Ferrites have the
characteristics of electromagnetism, excellent chemical stability, mechanical hardness, low
coercivity, moderate saturation magnetization and high anisotropy constant. Hence, Zinc
substituted Cobalt Ferrite is a good candidate for synthesizing as dielectric, magnetic,
multiferroic material and also for using in storage devices in advancement of science and
technology.
