Could binary mixture of Nd–Ni ions control the electrical behavior of strontium–barium M-type hexaferrite nanoparticles?

Cationic substitution in M-type hexaferrites is considered to be an important tool for modification of their electrical properties. This work is part of our comprehensive study on the synthesis and characterization of Nd–Ni doped strontium–barium hexaferrite nanomaterials of nominal composition Sr0.5Ba0.5−xNdxFe12−yNiyO19 (x = 0.00–0.10; y = 0.00–1.00). Doping with this binary mixture modulates the physical and electrical properties of strontium–barium hexaferrite nanoparticles. Structural and electrical properties of the co-precipitated ferrites are investigated using state-of-the-art techniques. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis reveal that the lattice parameters and cell volume are inversely related to the dopant content. Temperature dependent DC-electrical resistivity measurements infer that resistivity of strontium–barium hexaferrites decreases from 1.8 × 1010 to 2.0 × 108 Ω cm whereas the drift mobility, dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent are directly related to the Nd–Ni content. The results of the study demonstrate a relationship between the modulation of electrical properties of substituted ferrites and nature of cations and their lattice site occupancy.