Mechanism of ac conduction in nanostructured manganese zinc mixed ferrites

Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 nanoparticles (x = 0 to 1) were synthesized by the wet chemical co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were effectively utilized to investigate the different structural parameters. The ac conductivity of nanosized Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 were investigated as a function of frequency, temperature and composition. The frequency dependence of ac conductivity is analysed by the power law sigma(omega)(ac) = B omega(n) which is typical for charge transport by hopping or tunnelling processes. The temperature dependence of frequency exponent n was investigated to understand the conduction mechanism in different compositions. The conduction mechanisms are mainly based on polaron hopping conduction.