Physico-Chemical nanomaterials science

Effect of 16O6+ ion-irradiation on structural, magnetic 
properties, antistructural modeling of zinc nanoferrite
Parmar C.1, Verma R.1, Modak, S. S.2, Mazaleyrat F.3, 
Tatarchuk, T.4, Kane S. N.1
1 School of Physics, D. A. University, Khandwa road, Indore-452001, India 
2 Physics Department, Jaypee University of Eng. and Tech., Guna 473226, India
3 SATIE, ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 Av. des Sciences, 91190 Gif‑sur‑Yvette, France 
4 Chemistry Department, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine 
e-mail: tatarchuk.tetyana@gmail.com 

Ferrimagnetic spinel ferrites with general formula M2+Fe3+2O4, display face centred cubic fcc structure, Fd3m space group, and have two inter-penetrating sub-lattices tetrahedral (A), octahedral (B). Ferrites are important ceramic materials used in various applications including those in high frequency devices, microwave devices, gas sensing, multilayer chip inductors, in bio-medical applications etc. Tailoring their magnetic properties (to design, develop suitable materials) can be done by: i) a specific synthesis technique, ii) compositional variation, iii) thermal treatment/no-thermal treatment, ion irradiation etc. Ion irradiation is one of the novel techniques, known to affect material properties. So, we report effect of 80 MeV 16O6+ ion irradiation (Dose: 11011  11013 ions/cm2) on structural, magnetic properties, antistructural-modeling of sol gel auto-combustion synthesized “dry gel” ZnFe2O4, monitored by x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic measurements. 
Data analysis reveal that 16O6+ ion irradiation leads to modification of: a) lattice parameter (0.8400  0.8423 nm), b) grain diameter (15.7  17.6 nm), c) Oxygen positional parameter (0.3836  0.3846), inversion parameter (0.1  0.3), d) re-distribution of Fe3+, Zn2+ ions on A, B-site. Ion irradiation leads to reduction of: saturation magnetization (0.40  7.88 Am2/kg), minor changes in coercivity, squareness ratio (0.053  0.087). Results are interpreted in terms of ion-irradiation induced structural changes, resulting in alteration of magnetic properties. Antistructural modeling for the studied samples (pristine, irradiated) is used for describing the surface-active centers.