Effects of Ce 3+ doping on the structure and magnetic properties of Mn‐Zn ferrite fibers

Ce 3+ ‐doped Mn‐Zn ferrite fibers were successfully prepared by the organic gel‐thermal decomposition method from metal salts and citric acid. The composition, structure, and magnetic properties of these ferrite fibers were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results show that Mn 0.2 Zn 0.8 Fe 2− x Ce x O 4 ( x = 0–0.04) fibers are featured with an average grain size of 11.6–12.7 nm, with diameters ranging between 1.0 to 3.5 μm and a high aspect ratio (length/diameter). The Ce 3+ ion doping has not resulted in crystal structural changes of the Mn‐Zn ferrite phase and all the as‐prepared ferrite fibers have a simple spinel phase structure, although this influences the morphologies of Mn 0.2 Zn 0.8 Fe 2− x Ce x O 4 ferrite fibers possibly owing to the lattice distortion and internal‐stress. Both the lattice constant and grain size increase slightly with the increase of the Ce 3+ ion doping content. The soft magnetic properties of Mn‐Zn ferrite fibers can be improved by a small amount of Ce 3+ ion doping with an increase of the saturated magnetization and a decrease of the coercivity.