Dependence of magnetization on cation distributions in the spinel ferrites Cu_{1 − <i>x</i>}Zn_<i>x</i>Fe₂O₄(0.0 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤ 1.0)

Abstract

Abstract Ferrite samples of the composition Cu 1 − x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation. The samples exhibited a single‐phase cubic spinel structure and the saturation magnetization of the samples was found to increase with increasing Zn content, when x ≤ 0.4; and then decreased with increasing x . The dependence of magnetization on cation distributions in the ferrite samples has been estimated using a quantum‐mechanical method proposed by our group. Estimated cation distributions obtained by fitting the magnetic moments of the samples were used to perform Rietveld fitting for X‐ray diffraction patterns. The acceptable error parameters in the Rietveld fitting indicate that the estimated cation distributions in the samples are reasonable.