Structural and Magnetic Properties of Zn2+ Doped Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Sol-gel Auto Combustion Method

Zinc (Zn2+) doped spinel cobalt ferrites nanoparticles having composition (ZnxCo1?xFe2O4 where x?=?0.2, 0.4) were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. The structural and magnetic properties were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and Pulse field hysteresis loop tracer. The average crystallite size (D) was found to decrease from 32.15?nm to 24.31?nm with increasing the Zn2+. Magnetization field loops reveal ferromagnetic behavior, lower hysteresis loop observed for higher Zn content. The magnetic properties are remarkably influenced with Zn doping; saturation magnetization (Ms) decreases then increases while both coercivity (HC) and remanent magnetization (Mr) decrease with increase in Zn2+ content, which was associated with preferential site occupancy and the change in average crystallite size.