Si9+ Ion-Irradiation Induced Modification of Structural and Magnetic Properties of Zn-Nanoferrite

We report synthesis of ZnFe2O4 by sol gel auto-combustion technique, and study the effect of 120 MeV Si-28(9+) ion irradiation (dose: 1 x 10(12) -1 x 10(14) ions cm(-2)) on structural, magnetic properties, correlation between them, probed by X-ray diffraction XRD, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis SEM-EDX, magnetic measurements. Formation of single-phase spinel nanoferrite (grain diameter: 15.93-16.92 nm), is confirmed by XRD. EDX-SEM confirms formation of desired phase, non-homogeneous particle size dispersal. Results show that with increasing irradiation dose, lattice parameter decreases;reduction of Fe3+ ions on B-site, with concurrent increase on A-site, while Zn2+ ions remain more populated on A-site than on B-site. Irradiation shows decrease of oxygen positional parameter, and strain, increase of inversion-degree, modification of A-O-B, A-O-A, B-O-B super-exchange interaction, reduction of dead-layer thickness, resulting in reduction of coercivity, saturation magnetization. Linear dependence of coercivity on grain diameter suggests the studied samples lie in overlap-region between multiple-domains or single-domain.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of 120 MeV Si-28(9+) ion irradiation on ZnFe2O4 synthesized by sol gel auto-combustion technique, revealing changes in structural and magnetic properties with increasing irradiation dose.