Influence of Y3+, Yb3+, Gd3+ cations on structural and electromagnetic properties of CuFe2O4 nanoferrites prepared via one step sol-gel method

Rare earths (REs) play a key role in distorting spinel structure by creating some defects at the lattice sites and make them suitable for magnetodielectric applications. In the present study, the nanoferrites of CuRE0.02Fe1.98O4 where REs = Y3+, Yb3+, Gd3+, were prepared using one step sol–gel method. The prepared samples are represented as copper ferrite (CFO), yttrium doped copper ferrite (Y-CFO), ytterbium doped copper ferrite (Yb-CFO) and gadolinium doped copper ferrite (Gd-CFO), respectively. The single-phase structure of all the REs doped nanoferrites was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The porosity, agglomerations and grain size of the REs doped copper ferrite were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) elaborates the phase formation and environmental effects on the REs doped nanoparticles (NPs). The recorded room temperature M−H loops from a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) elucidate the magnetic properties of the REs doped spinel nanoferrites. The magnetic saturation (Ms) was calculated in the range of 23.08 to 51.78 emu/g. The calculated coercivity values (272.6 to 705.60 Oe) confirm the soft magnetic behavior of REs doped copper ferrites. Furthermore, the electromagnetic and dielectric properties were assessed using a Vector network analyzer (VNA) from 1 to 6 GHz. The permeability, permittivity, dielectric tangent loss and electric modulus of the REs doped spinel ferrites illustrate that the prepared NPs may be suitable for microwave and high frequency applications.