Synthesis, structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nanomaterial prepared by sol-gel autocombustion technique

Abstract Cubic spinel structured CoFe2O4 nanocrystalline material has been synthesized using the sol-gel auto combustion route. Structural parameters and phase formation were studied using room temperature powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The result shows a pure cubic spinel structured sample formation with a lattice parameter of 8.4277 A. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) microstructural characterization revealed the nanocrystalline structure of the so synthesized sample with non-homogeneous grain sizes and grain shapes. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) characterization confirmed the spinel structure formation by exhibiting the cation stretching-vibrations at the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The DC resistivity measurement has been carried out using a two-probe technique and confirmed the high resistive nature of the sample. The room temperature dielectric and AC properties were investigated in the frequency ranges of 100 Hz–5 MHz. The dielectric dispersion has been observed at lower frequencies. Higher magnetization value has been measured using the VSM technique.