Effect of γ- rays irradiation on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Dy 3+ substituted nanocrystalline Ni-Zn ferrites

Abstract Nanocrystalline Ni x Zn 1-x Dy y Fe 2-y O 4 (x ≤ 0 ≤ 1.0; y = 0.0, 0.1) ferrites were prepared by solution combustion method. Structural investigation was studied using XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDAX techniques. All samples were irradiated with 60 Co gamma source with total exposure dose of 310 kGy. XRD patterns revealed the formation of cubic spinel structure. FTIR spectra confirm the presence of two prominent vibrational bands. DC conductivity was found to obey the Arrhenius relation with a change in slope at Curie temperature and impedes with Dy 3+ ion content. ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles exhibit a weak ferrimagnetic behavior at 300 K. The saturation magnetization, remanence magnetization, coercivity, remanence ratio, magneton number and Yaffet–Kittle angle were found to decrease in Dy 3+ ion substituted samples attributed to redistribution of cations amongst the sites and weakening the A-B exchange interactions. The enhancement of DC conductivity and magnetic parameters on γ-irradiation attributed to surface states pinning of domains released.