Magnetic properties of NiCuZn ferrite nanoparticles synthesized using egg-white

A new process to prepare single-phase nano-sized ferrites, Ni0.8−xCu0.2ZnxFe2O4 with x = 0.1–0.7, was developed using egg-white precursors. TG measurement showed that, the precursors must be calcined at 550 °C. XRD patterns indicated the formation of single-phase cubic ferrites with particle size in the range 28.7–48.4 nm. TEM image gave particle size agrees well with that estimated using XRD. FT-IR spectroscopy showed the characteristic ferrite bands. Hysteresis loops measurements exhibited an increase in the saturation magnetization value (Ms) up to zinc content of 0.2 followed by unexpected decrease, which suggests the preference of Zn2+ ions to occupy octahedral sites. The decrease in the coercivity (Hc) with increasing zinc content is attributed to the lower magneto-crystalline anisotropy of Zn2+ ions compared to Ni2+ ions. Temperature dependence of the molar magnetic susceptibility (χM) suggested a ferrimagnetic behavior of the investigated samples and showed a decrease in the value of the Curie temperature (TC) with increasing zinc.