Preparation and characterization of non-molar Mg0.5+xLi1- 2xFe2O4 (x=0, 0.15 and 0.35) ferrite nanoparticles, annealed at temperature 450° C for varied applications

Non-molar Li substituted ferrite nanoparticles Mg0. 5+xLi1−2xFe2O4 (x= 0, 0.15, 0.35) was prepared using low cost sol gel method, annealed at low temperature 450°C. Thermal analysis measurement confirms that there is a decrease in weight with an increase in temperature. The XRD study confirms that pure phase spinel structure and crystalline sizes 25 nm, 42 nm and 29nm respectively. The FTIR spectroscopy also confirms the spinel nature, having characteristic absorption peaks at 588 cm−1 and 435 cm−1. SEM image confirms the cubic structure and porosity in the material. HRTEM measurement confirms the cubic structure and formation of polycrystalline structure having six concentric circles, which indicates the hkl of prepared nanomaterial. The EDAX measurement indicates there is no impurity in the materials having characteristic elements only. The indirect energy band gap was evaluated using tauc plot and was found to be 2.5 eV, 2.02 eV and 2.23 eV respectively and found the function of crystallite size. Strong luminescence was observed in the luminescence of peak intensity in the range of visible range at about 400nm. Magnetization measurement shows magnetization 5.53 emu/g, 4.23 emu/g and 0.15 emu/g respectively. Present study opens a new window of non-stoichiometries low temperature preparation of Li substituted ferrite materials may be potential candidates for its applications in Magneto-optical device, humidity sensor and hydroelectric cell applications.