Electrical and switching properties of NiAlxFe2-xO4 ferrites synthesized by chemical method

Nickel-aluminum ferrite system NiAlxFe2-xO4 has been synthesized by wet chemical co-precipitation method. The samples were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, d.c. electrical resistivity, a.c. electrical resistivity, a.c. conductivity and switching properties. The XRD patterns confirm the cubic spinel structure for all the synthesized samples. The crystallite size calculated from XRD data which confirm the nano-size dimension of the prepared samples. Electrical properties such as a.c. and d.c. resistivities as function of temperature were studied for various Al substitution in nickel ferrite. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent were also studied as a function of frequency. The dielectric constant follows the Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. A.C. conductivity increases with increase in applied frequency. The d.c. resistivity decreases as temperature increases, which indicate that the sample have semi-conducting nature. Verwey hoping mechanism explains the observed variation in resistivity. The activation energy is derived from the temperature variation of resistivity. Electrical switching properties were studied as I-V measurements. The current controlled negative resistance type switching is observed in all the samples. The Al substitution in nickel ferrite decreases the required switching field. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.