Tailored structural and magnetic traits of hard/soft ferrite nanocomposites: Effect of cerium substitution

IF 5.45 Q1 Physics and Astronomy

Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-19 DOI:10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101686

Y. Slimani , A. Baykal , M.A. Almessiere , S.E. Shirsath , M.A. Gondal , M.Y. Altuntaş , S. Akhtar

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Hard/soft (H/S) CoCe_xFe_2-xO₄/Ni_0.3Cu_0.3Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ (x ≤ 0.025) spinel nanocomposites (H/S Ce→CFO/NCZFO (x ≤ 0.025) SNCs) were obtained via ultrasonic irradiation route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of a single-phase cubic spinel structure for all compositions, with the average crystallite size (D_p) ranging between 10.8 and 19.8 nm. Electron microscopy images revealed clusters of spherical nanoparticles, while energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping verified the homogeneous distribution of all constituent elements. Vibrating sample magnetometry revealed that the nanocomposites exhibit superparamagnetism at ambient temperature. This was characterized by smooth M-H curves and single-peak in their demagnetization differential curves, which indicate an effective exchange coupling between the two ferrite components. At 20 K, the combinations revealed ferrimagnetic behaviors. While the pristine H/S (x = 0.00) displayed a smooth M-H curve and maintained a single-phase-like switching behavior, the Ce-doped H/S ferrite-based samples (x ≥ 0.010) exhibited kinks in their M-H curves and multiple peaks in their demagnetization differential curves, indicating a weakening of the exchange coupling at low temperatures. Substitution with Ce ions led to a systematic decrease in saturation magnetization (M_s) and magnetic moment (n_B), while the coercivity (H_c) increased significantly at low temperatures, reflecting enhanced magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The measurements of magnetization versus temperature confirmed the transition from a superparamagnetic state to a ferrimagnetic state, with blocking temperatures (T_B) observed to increase from 149.1 K (x = 0.015) to 162.2 K (x = 0.025). These results highlight the role of Cerium in tailoring the magnetic hardness and thermal stability of hard/soft ferrite systems.

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硬/软铁氧体纳米复合材料的定制结构和磁性：铈取代的影响

采用超声辐照法制备了硬/软（H/S） CoCexFe2-xO4/Ni0.3Cu0.3Zn0.4Fe2O4 （x ≤ 0.025）尖晶石纳米复合材料（H/S Ce→CFO/NCZFO (x ≤ 0.025)SNCs）。x射线衍射（XRD）图证实了所有成分均形成了一种单相立方尖晶石结构，平均晶粒尺寸（Dp）在10.8 ~ 19.8 nm之间。电子显微镜图像显示球形纳米颗粒簇，而能量色散x射线（EDX）映射证实了所有组成元素的均匀分布。振动样品磁强计表明，纳米复合材料在室温下表现出超顺磁性。M-H曲线平滑，退磁差曲线呈单峰，表明两种铁氧体组分之间存在有效的交换耦合。在20 K时，这些组合显示出铁磁行为。原始H/S （x = 0.00）表现出光滑的M-H曲线，并保持单相开关行为，而掺杂ce的H/S铁氧体样品（x ≥ 0.010）的M-H曲线出现弯曲，退磁差曲线出现多峰，表明低温下交换耦合减弱。Ce离子取代导致饱和磁化强度（Ms）和磁矩（nB）系统性降低，而矫顽力（Hc）在低温下显著增加，反映了磁晶各向异性的增强。磁化与温度的测量证实了从超顺磁状态到铁磁状态的转变，观察到阻滞温度（TB）从149.1 K （x = 0.015）增加到162.2 K （x = 0.025）。这些结果强调了铈在调整硬/软铁氧体体系的磁性硬度和热稳定性方面的作用。

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来源期刊

Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects Physics and Astronomy-Condensed Matter Physics

CiteScore

9.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

22 days

期刊介绍： Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects is a new journal devoted to all aspects of the synthesis and the properties of this new flourishing domain. The journal is devoted to novel architectures at the nano-level with an emphasis on new synthesis and characterization methods. The journal is focused on the objects rather than on their applications. However, the research for new applications of original nano-structures & nano-objects in various fields such as nano-electronics, energy conversion, catalysis, drug delivery and nano-medicine is also welcome. The scope of Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects involves: -Metal and alloy nanoparticles with complex nanostructures such as shape control, core-shell and dumbells -Oxide nanoparticles and nanostructures, with complex oxide/metal, oxide/surface and oxide /organic interfaces -Inorganic semi-conducting nanoparticles (quantum dots) with an emphasis on new phases, structures, shapes and complexity -Nanostructures involving molecular inorganic species such as nanoparticles of coordination compounds, molecular magnets, spin transition nanoparticles etc. or organic nano-objects, in particular for molecular electronics -Nanostructured materials such as nano-MOFs and nano-zeolites -Hetero-junctions between molecules and nano-objects, between different nano-objects & nanostructures or between nano-objects & nanostructures and surfaces -Methods of characterization specific of the nano size or adapted for the nano size such as X-ray and neutron scattering, light scattering, NMR, Raman, Plasmonics, near field microscopies, various TEM and SEM techniques, magnetic studies, etc .