Structural and Electrical Conductivity Studies in Nickel-Zinc Ferrite

The magnetic particles of nickel-zinc ferrite with chemical composition Ni1-xZnxFe2O4 were synthesized successfully by citrate precursor auto-combustion method using high purity nitrates and citric acid as chelating agent. The prepared powder of nickel-zinc ferrites was sintered at 1000℃ for 1 hr to obtain good crystalline phase and was used for further study. The X-ray diffraction technique was employed to confirm the single phase formation of nickel ferrite. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the Bragg’s peak which belongs to cubic spinel structure. The values of lattice constant, X-ray density, bulk density, and porosity were calculated. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity plot shows the kink, which can be attributed to ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition. The activation energy obtained from resistivity plots in paramagnetic region is found to be more than that in ferrimagnetic region. The conduction mechanism in nickel-zinc ferrite particles has been discussed on the basis of hopping of electrons.