Structural, spectral, dielectric, and magnetic properties of indium substituted Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2−xO4 magnetic oxides

The influence of indium on the properties of Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nano ferrites synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion technique was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that pure and substituted ferrites possessed cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter increases with the inclusion of In3+ for x ≤ 0.16 and decreases subsequently. A linear decrease in crystallite size was found as concentration of indium increased. X-ray density, strain, and dislocation density were increased as indium content increases. Hopping lengths as well as radii of A and B sites revealed increasing behavior up to x = 0.16 and decreased thereafter. The spectral bands indicated the formation of spinel structure. The band positions were altered with the increase of In3+ contents. The inclusion of indium ions increases the value of dielectric parameters while magnetic parameters decreased. This increase in dielectric parameters and decrease in magnetization proposed that synthesized magnetic oxides may have potential in the fabrication of switching and high-frequency devices.