Effect of antisite formation on magnetic properties of nickel zinc ferrite particles

In this report, we have investigated the effect of antisite ordering on the magnetic behavior of NixZn1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles for x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. Observed magnetization versus temperature data show systematic gradual changes from antiferromagnetic to ferrimagnetic phase with increasing amount of Ni concentration. Saturation magnetization of the parent Zn ferrite increases when substituted by Ni and then decreases for concentration greater than x = 0.5. Coercivity also shows a concentration dependence. Saturation magnetization has no dependence on cooling field at all concentrations. For x = 0.5 the system act as an extremely soft magnetic material with highest saturation magnetization and lowest coercivity. Site occupancy by cations plays an important role for local moment imbalance between different antiferromagnetic sublattices giving rise to ferrimagnetic interaction upon Ni substituted in Zn ferrite. (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.