Nonmagnetic Zinc substitution on Cobalt Ferrites and measurement of their Structural, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties

A series of Co_1-xZn_xFe₂O₄ ferrites with (x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5) compositions were synthesized by standard double sintering ceramic technique. Substituting nonmagnetic Zn in place of Co influenced the structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of the samples. The X-Ray diffraction pattern confirmed the single-phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameters were found to increase with Zn substitution. The grain size of the samples was reduced by enhancing the Zn concentration. The dielectric constant of the sample is found to decrease with increase in frequency exhibiting normal dielectric behavior. 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. Saturation magnetization and coercivity were estimated with variation of Zn content by VSM measurement. These effects are due to facilitation of demagnetization by substitution of the non-magnetic Zn ions. Permeability was found to decrease with increasing in Zn content, which showed proportionality behavior with grain size. Low coercivity, moderate saturation magnetization and high anisotropy constant has made Cobalt Ferrite a good candidate to contribute in multiferroic materials and in storage devices