X-ray, SEM, far IR characterization and bulk magnetic properties of Zn2+ substituted copper ferrite synthesized by co- precipitation technique

The alternating current (ac) low field susceptibility vs temperature and ma gnetization measurements are reported for the spinel solid solution series ZnxCu1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8) synthesized by a wet-chemi cal method before and after high temperature annealing. The low values of l attice constant, magneton number and Neel temperature for wet-samples (W) a s compared to annealed wet (AW) samples are explained on the basis of fine particle nature of wet samples. The high temperature annealing changes the wet-prepared ferrites into ordered magnetic structure of ceramic ferrites. The Neel temperature calculated theoretically are in good agreement to thos e deduced experimentally. Scanning electron micrographs are used to see the grain growth and homogeneity of the samples while infra red spectra are us ed to determine water and sulphate content and to confirm ordered spinel fe rrite structure.