Substitutional effect of copper on the cation distribution in cobalt chromium ferrites and their structural and magnetic properties

A series of copper substituted cobalt chromium ferrites, Cu_xCo₁ - _xCr_0.5Fe_1.5O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) has been synthesized, by employing powder metallurgy method. Calcination of the samples has been carried out for 24 hours at 1100 °C. The resultant materials have been investigated by using a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM)), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The XRD patterns confirmed that all compositions had a cubic spinel structure with a single phase and the lattice parameter was found to increase with increasing copper concentration. FT-IR spectroscopy has been used for studying the chemical bonds in the spinel ferrite. Shifting of the bands ν₁ and ν₂ has been observed. It has been revealed from VSM analysis that saturation magnetization and coercivity decrease with rising the Cu⁺² doping. Magnetic properties have been explained on the basis of cation distribution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to study the surface morphology of prepared samples. UV-Vis analysis revealed the optical absorption of the samples. An increase in band gaps has been observed with increasing copper concentration in the sample.