Sol–gel processing and magnetic properties of nickel zinc ferrite thick films

Nickel zinc ferrite Ni0.36Zn0.64Fe2O4 (NZF) thick films have been synthesised using a dip coating sol–gel process. The coating sol has been formed from NZF powders dispersed in the NZF raw sol. A suitable processing temperature for the preparation of NZF composite films with reasonable magnetic properties has been found to be 400°C. The magnetisation of NZF films increased and coercive force decreased with the processing temperature. Typical values of magnetisation and coercive force of the NZF films have been found to be Ms=110 emu/cm3 and Hc=20 Oe, respectively. The sol–gel method combined with dispersion of ceramic NZF particles in starting sols has been proved to be useful for producing thick nickel zinc ferrite films.