Novel magnetic nanomaterial Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2-xGdxO4 for nanotechnology applications: experimental and theoretical investigations

Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2-xGdxO4 (x=0.02) ferrite nanoparticles with average size of 32 nm is synthesized by the co-precipitation method for the first time. X-ray diffraction spectra revealed the formation of single-phase spinel with a high crystallinity. Fourier transform infra-red spectra confirmed the formation of spinel matrix crystallographic sites and Scanning Electron Microscopy images confirmed the formation of agglomerated spherical particles with nanometric sizes. The analysis of the magnetic properties indicates that the coercivity (H-c) and Curie temperature (T-c) values increase while the saturation magnetization (M-s) value decreases upon doping with Gd. These results can be seen as a significant improvement of the magnetic properties compared to the undoped material, which could be beneficial for nanotechnology applications. The material is also studied from a theoretical perspective using first-principles calculations. The used PBE-HF method based on the GGA method with the implication of the onsite-exact-exchange proved to be very accurate in describing the system, giving rise to a semi-conducting behavior for the inverse spinel CoFe2O4 and a metallic electronic structure for Gd-doped Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4.

Automated summary

Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2-xGdxO4 ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation method, showing enhanced magnetic properties after Gd doping. This improvement could be beneficial for nanotechnology applications.