Effect of neodymium substitution on structural and magnetic properties of magnesium ferrite nanoparticles

The effect of Nd3+ substitution on the structural properties of magnesium ferrite prepared by the sol-gel technique was studied in the series MgNdxFe2-xO4, where x = 0-0.3 in steps of 0.05. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the limit for Nd3+ doping without any secondary phase appearing along with the spinel phase. Particle size calculation shows that the crystallite sizes of the prepared samples are in the 21-30 nm regime. The decrease in value of the lattice parameter with doping suggests that the shrinkage in unit cell and the crystallite size increase with Nd3+ concentration. Fourier transform infrared analysis shows that the substitution of Fe3+ ions is in octahedral B-sites by Nd3+ ions. X-ray fluorescence results show that the composition of prepared samples is in the expected ratio. Transmission electron microscope micrographs revealed spherical morphology and magnetic interaction of the samples. Magnetic measurements revealed the B-site substitution of Nd3+ ions in the series MgNdxFe2-xO4. The variation of magnetic parameters with doping concentration is explained with the help of particle size dependence.