Impact of grain size and structural changes on magnetic, dielectric, electrical, impedance and modulus spectroscopic characteristics of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel combustion method

In this work CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel combustion method and further annealed at higher temperature 500 degrees C, 700 degrees C, 900 degrees C and 1100 degrees C. The synthesized spinel ferrite nanoparticles is investigated by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The x-ray diffraction study reveals face-centered cubic spinel cobalt ferrite crystal phase formation. The crystallite size and lattice parameter are increased with annealing temperature. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra also confirm spinel ferrite crystal structure of synthesized nanoparticles. The existence of cation at octahedral and tetrahedral site in cobalt ferrite nanoparticles is confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Magnetic measurement shows increased saturation magnetization 74.4 emu g(-1) at higher annealing temperature 1100 degrees C, high coercivity 1347.3 Oe at lower annealing temperature 500 degrees C, and high remanent magnetization 32.3 emu g(-1) at 900 degrees C annealing temperature. The magnetic properties of synthesized ferrite nanoparticles can be tuned by adjusting sizes through annealing temperature. Furthermore, the dielectric constant and ac conductivity shows variation with frequency (1-10(7) Hz), grain size and cation redistribution. The modulus spectroscopy study reveals the role of bulk grain and grain boundary towards the resistance and capacitance. The cole-cole plots in modulus formalism also well support the electrical response of nanoparticles originated from both grain and grain boundaries. The dielectric, electrical, magnetic, impedance and modulus spectroscopic characteristics of synthesized CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles demonstrate the applicability of these nanoparticles for magnetic recording, memory devices and for microwave applications.