Microwave-induced combustion synthesis and characterization of NixCo1-xFe2O4 nanocrystals (x=0.0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0)

Abstract

A series of Ni-doped cobalt ferrites NixCo1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) were prepared using microwave-induced combustion. Nickel, cobalt, and ferric nitrates were used as starting materials and glycine as fuel. The influence of Ni content on the lattice parameter, stretching vibrations, and magnetization was studied. XRD, FTIR, and SEM were used for structure, composition, and morphology investigation. A porous network structure was observed with average particle size 60-67 nm. All samples had a cubic spinel structure. The unit cell parameter a decreases linearly with nickel concentration due to the smaller ionic radius of nickel. Magnetization measurements showed that coercivity decreased as Ni content increased; it increased with decreasing temperature.