A synergetic impact of Zn/Mg co-substitution on enhancement physical properties of CuFe2O4 spinel ferrites

Abstract

A series of Zn/Mg co-substituted CuFe₂O₄ spinel ferrites, denoted Cu_1−3xZn_2xMg_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, and 0.15), were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized ferrites were found to be improved by the selective Zn/Mg co-substitution content by modulation of the atomic arrangement of the CuFe₂O₄ spinel ferrites. The structural analysis indicates a structural phase transition from the tetragonal structure with I4₁/amd space group to the cubic structure with \(Fd\overline{3}m\) space group as the co-substitution of Zn/Mg ions increases. This phase transition was further confirmed by the results obtained from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which provided clear evidence of the structural changes induced by ion substitution. Additionally, the optical properties of the synthesized CuFe₂O₄ spinel ferrites with Zn/Mg co-substitution were examined using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The bandgap energy values ranged from 1.27 to 1.76 eV, which were found to be strongly influenced by the co-substitution levels of Zn and Mg in the samples. The magnetic properties of the co-substituted CuFe₂O₄ spinel ferrite nanoparticles were found to be strongly dependent on the Zn/Mg co-substitution levels, revealing a transition from hard to soft magnetic phases as the substitution levels were increased.