Mg-modified Zn-Co-Fe-La nano ferrites: a study of structural, morphological, vibrational, electro-optical, dielectric and magnetic evolution

The series of Zn0.4Co0.6−xMgxFe1.9La0.1O4 (x = 0.0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.6) nanoferrites prepared via co-precipitation technique. Scherrer and Williamson-Hall (W-H) methods were used to find the crystallite size (29.6–39.2 nm and 31.6–36.3 nm, respectively) and lattice constant was calculated (8.406–8.395 Å). Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the existence of absorption bands along with functional groups. The vibrations of O2- ions at the tetrahedral and octahedral sites were shown by the Raman five active modes. DC resistivity reduced in the range of 5.2961 × 108 Ω cm to 9.6453 × 107 Ω cm for x = 0.0 to x = 0.6, respectively. The maximum DC resistivity and activation energy (0.1035 eV) were obtained at the parent sample (Zn0.4Co0.6Fe1.9La0.1O4). The optical bandgaps reduced from 2.61 to 1.47 eV, as the Mg2+ contents increased. With increasing frequency the dielectric loss and the dielectric constant decrease. The magnetic parameters such as saturation magnetization (Ms = 60.82–25.94 emu/g), remnant magnetization (Mr = 47.82–18.64 emu/g), and coercivity (Hc = 1334–511 Oe) demonstrated reducing trends with the increase of Mg2+ doping. The best magnetic behavior of the as-prepared samples suitable in microwave devices was observed for Zn0.4Co0.6Fe1.9La0.1O4 sample.