Structural and magnetic studies on the yttrium–doped zinc–copper ferrite nanoparticle synthesized by the solution combustion method

Magnetic nanoparticle of Zn_0.4Cu_0.6Y_xFe_2-xO₄ (ZCYF) was synthesized with different doping level (X = 0.0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04) by using the method of solution combustion. The prepared samples were sintered at 900°C and then analysed to know their structural and magnetic parameters. The cubic formation was confirmed by using X-ray diffractometry. The particle size was calculated using Scherrer’s equation and found to vary between 69–88 nm. The particle sizes in the sample ranged from 432.62 to 191.24 nm, as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of the synthesized powder was also confirmed using an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDAX). The magnetic properties of the sample were evaluated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), revealing the material to be soft magnetic, with saturation magnetization ranging from 50.97 to 60.25 emu g⁻¹. The elemental composition was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Dielectric measurements showed that Y³⁺ substitution in ZCYF significantly affects electron-transport properties.