Impact of Cd content on properties of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 nanoferrites prepared without post-preparation thermal treatment

We report sol–gel auto-combustion synthesis of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 (0.0–0.72) nano-ferrites (grain-diameter:13.8–28.6 nm) with no thermal-treatment and, its study by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning-electron-microscopy-energy-dispersive-x-ray-spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), vibration sample magnetometery, ultraviolet–visible (Uv–Vis) spectroscopic techniques. XRD, EDS confirm formation of spinel phase, with minor-presence of α-Fe2O3 phase. Results show linear increase of lattice parameter; strong compositional dependence of: cationic-distribution (Fe3+ Ni2+ ions more-populated on B-site, Cd2+ distributed on A, B site); inversion-degree; oxygen-parameter; very-similar mean-particle-agglomerate-size; variation of B-O-B A-O-B A-O-A super-exchange-interaction affect magnetic properties. Magnetism is governed by Yafet-Kittel three-sub-lattice model; studied samples remain in the overlap region between single/ multi-domain structures.