X-Ray Diffraction and Cation Distribution Studies in Zinc-Substituted Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles

Structural and cation distribution studies on Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 (with x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) ferrite nanoparticles by using X-ray diffraction analysis are reported. In this work the Nickel–Zinc ferrites nanoparticles are synthesized by sol–gel auto combustion using respective metal nitrates and citric acid as fuel for the auto combustion reaction. Formation of ferrite nanoparticles having single-phase spinel structure is evident from the obtained X-ray diffraction patterns. Lattice constant values of the Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 ferrite system are found to increase with increase of zinc substitution x. Broad and intense XRD peaks in the patterns indicate the nanocrystalline nature of the produced ferrite samples. Average particle size calculated from most intense Bragg’s reflection (311) using Debye–Scherrer’s formula is found to be 30 nm. The particle size is found to decrease with increase in zinc substitution x. Observed X-ray density is found to decrease with increase in zinc substitution x. Bulk density, porosity, and unit cell volume are also calculated from the XRD data. Distribution of metal cations in the spinel structure estimated from X-ray diffraction data show that along with Ni2+ ions most of the Zn2+ ions also occupy the octahedral [B] sites, which are attributed to nanosize dimensions of the ferrite samples.