Electrical transport properties of erbium substituted Ni–Zn ferrites

Abstract

Electrical transport properties such as electrical conductivity (σ) and thermoelectric power (S) of erbium substituted Ni–Zn ferrites of various compositions have been investigated from room temperature to well beyond the Curie temperature. Plots of log (σT) versus 10³/T are linear and show a transition near the Curie temperature. On the basis of Seebeck coefficient (S), the ferrites under investigation have been classified as n type semiconductors. The activation energy in the ferrimagnetic region is in general less than that in the paramagnetic region. An attempt is made to explain the conduction mechanism in these ferrites. The properties of gadolinium substituted Ni–Zn ferrites have been correlated with these of erbium substituted Ni–Zn ferrites.