Dielectric Behavior and Magnetic Properties of Mn-Substituted Ni–Zn Ferrites

Nanocrystalline spinel ferrites of nominal stoichiometry Ni0.5Zn0.5MnxFe2−xO4 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed formation of a single cubic phase with no metal oxide secondary phase; increased intensity of peaks of the doped samples suggests that, in the range studied, substituents are completely dissolved in the cubic lattice. Grain size was measured by scanning electron microscopy, by use of the line intercept method. Dielectric measurements were obtained as a function of frequency in the range 20 Hz to 3 MHz. It was found that hopping conduction was the predominant mechanism of conduction in frequency-dependent alternating current conductivity. Conductivity relaxation of the charge carriers was examined by use of the electrical modulus formalism; the results were indicative of the presence of the non-Debye-type relaxation in the ferrites. The grain boundary contribution was clearly apparent from Cole–Cole plots. Hysteresis loops for all the samples were narrow with low values of coercivity and retentivity, indicative of the superparamagnetic nature of these samples. On the basis of these sample characteristics it is suggested that Ni–Zn–Mn ferrites may be potential candidates for hyperthermia applications.