Influential trivalent ion (Cr³⁺) substitution in mixed Ni–Zn nanoferrites: Cation distribution, magnetic, Mossbauer, electric, and dielectric studies

Herein, we report the influence of trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺) ion substitution on the electric, dielectric, and hyperfine interaction properties of a mixed Ni–Zn nanoferrite system synthesized by an auto combustion solution-gelation route. The XRD analysis verified the monophase nanocrystalline formation of prepared ferrites belonging to the spinel group with a cubic structure. TEM images displayed the sphere-like morphologies of the typical nanoferrite sample. FT-IR spectra uncover the occurrence of two absorption frequency bands in the desired region belonging to spinel ferrite. The magnetic parameters decreased significantly with increasing Cr³⁺ concentration. Mossbauer parameters, such as the hyperfine field, line-width, isomer shift and quadrupole splitting, were deduced for all the samples. DCR studies confirmed the semiconducting behavior of all the samples with an increasing resistivity trend after Cr³⁺ substitution. The dielectric study showed a decreasing trend with an increase in Cr³⁺ concentration. All the results display the influential substitution of Cr³⁺ ions in the Ni–Zn ferrite system, which shows the usability of the prepared samples in higher frequency ranging systems.