Study of structure, magnetic and electrical properties of CoFe2-xCrxO4 nanocomposites synthesized using sol-gel method

The effect chromium doping in cobalt ferrites, in the nano scale, has been studied. Structure, morphology, electrical and magnetic transport of CoFe2-xCrxO4(x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) has been investigated in detail. Sol-gel method has been used to get nano crystalline size of the prepared spinel structure. The formed gel has been fired at 600 degrees C temperature. Single cubic crystal phase is formed according to analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns and infra-red spectra. The decrease in both the lattice constant and the crystalline size has been observed as a result of Cr doping. Moreover, the electron density inside the unit cell has decreased as a result of Cr doping. All samples have been homogenously formed in the nano-crystallized size in the range from 7 to 16 nm. There has been a phase transformation (exothermic peak) at point 342 degrees C for x = 0.0 and 362 degrees C for samples containing extra Cr ions for the DSC curve. The two essential absorption bands nu(1) and nu(2) have been observed in the range 560-610 (for all prepared samples) and 420 cm(-1) (for all doped samples with Cr ions), respectively for infra red analysis. The electrical properties have showed semiconductor behavior. The magnetic properties of these compounds have been studied. They have demonstrated ferrimagnetic ordering type. From the magnetic hysteresis loop, it has been noted that the coercivity H(C)i has decreased as a result of the substitution of iron with chrome. CoFe2O4 has been higher coercivity of 1595.4G and the coercivity has decreased to be 114.6G for CoFe0.5Cr1.5O4.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of chromium doping in cobalt ferrites at the nano scale, revealing a decrease in lattice constant and crystalline size as well as a decrease in electron density inside the unit cell due to Cr doping. Infrared analysis showed two absorption bands and the electrical properties exhibited semiconductor behavior. Magnetic properties demonstrated ferrimagnetic ordering with a decrease in coercivity as a result of iron substitution with chromium.