Effect of Zn substitution on morphology and magnetic properties of copper ferrite nanofibers

TL;DR

This study investigates how substituting Zn into copper ferrite nanofibers affects their morphology and magnetic properties, revealing optimal magnetic performance at specific doping levels.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of Zn substitution on the structural and magnetic characteristics of copper ferrite nanofibers prepared by electrospinning and sol-gel methods.

Findings

Surface morphology changes with Zn doping from porous to smooth.

Maximum saturation magnetization occurs at x=0.4.

Magnetic properties are influenced by cation distribution and exchange interactions.

Abstract

Spinel ferrite Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 nanofibers over a compositional range 0 < x < 1 were prepared by electrospinning combined with sol-gel method. The influence of Zn2+ ions substitution on morphology, structure, and magnetic properties of copper ferrite has been investigated. The results show that surface of CuFe2O4 nanofibers consists of small open porosity, while surface of doped nanofibers reveals smooth and densified nature. With increasing Zn substitution, saturation magnetization initially increases and then decreases with a maximum value of 58.4 emu/g at x = 0.4, coercivity and square ratio all decrease. The influence of substitution on magnetic properties is related with the cation distraction and exchange interactions between spinel lattices.