Effect of neodymium on barium-based spinel ferrites

In the present work, the effect of neodymium on the barium-based spinel ferrites has been investigated. A series of spinel ferrites with compositions BaNdyFe2-yO4 (y = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) was synthesized by the sol–gel technique. These spinel ferrites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrical properties, and magnetic properties. X-ray analysis ascertained the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structure for all samples, while some traces of second phase recognized as orthorhombic phase NdrFeO3 in the last two samples. There was an overall increase in the lattice parameter as neodymium (Nd) contents were substituted. There was a regular increase in bulk density and X-ray density with the increase in neodymium concentration. Electrical measurements demonstrate that resistivity and activation energy increase with the neodymium substitution, while dc resistivity decreases with the rise of temperature showing the semiconductor nature of the synthesized ferrites. Curie temperature dropped with the substitution of neodymium concentration. Magnetic properties of the synthesized materials were studied between applied magnetic field range − 2 KOe and + 2 KOe and corresponding M–H loops were obtained. The saturation magnetization and remanence decreased on the substitution of Nd while coercivity (Hc) values enhanced. The smaller values of anisotropic constant exhibited the isotropic nature of these ferrites. The prepared spinel ferrites might be suitable for high-frequency multilayer chip inductors.