Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of CoFe2-xMoxO4 (0.0≤x≤0.3) ferrites

We have investigated structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of CoFe2-xMoxO4 (0.0 <= x <= 0.3) ferrites. Polycrystalline samples were prepared by the sol gel method and characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all samples have a cubic spinel structure and the lattice parameter, a, decreases monotonically with increase in Mo concentration. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that most of the particles are in the range of 400-850 nm size. Magnetic measurements, performed by using a cryogen free vibrating sample magnetometer, show that these samples are soft ferromagnets in the measured temperature range. The saturation magnetization, M-s, values of Mo-doped samples are larger than the parent compound with a maximum value of similar to 106 emu/g for x=0.2 sample. The magnetic entropy change (-Delta S) increases with increase in applied magnetic field and shows a peak in the vicinity of blocking temperature. A maximum value of 0.56 J kg(-1) K-1 at 5 T field has been observed for x=0.2 sample.