Impact of Nd-Zn co-substitution on microstructure and magnetic properties of SrFe12O19 nanohexaferrite

This study investigated Sr(Nd,Zn)(x)Fe12-xO19 (0.0 <= x <= 0.1) nanohexaferrites synthesized using the sol-gel auto combustion route. The phase of the Sr(Nd,Zn)(x)Fe12-xO19 (0.0 <= x <= 0.1) nanohexaferrites was confirmed using an X-ray powder diffractometer. Moreover, field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed agglomerated grains with a hexagonal-plate structure. The magnetic hysteresis loops indicated that the various synthesized nanohexaferrites exhibited hard ferromagnetic behaviors at both room and low temperatures. The values deduced for the saturation magnetization (M-s), remanence (M-r), magneton number, and magneto-crystalline anisotropy constant were improved through the use of low Nd and Zn contents, i.e., Sr(Nd,Zn)(0.1)Fe11.9O19. These parameters had lower values with higher Nd and Zn contents. On the other hand, the coercivity and intrinsic coercivity were improved by the Nd and Zn substitutions. The squareness ratio (M-r/M-s) was approximately 0.50, suggesting that the Sr(Nd,zn)(x)Fe12.xO19 (0.0 <= x <= 0.1) nanohexaferrites had uniaxial anisotropy.