Effect of Gd substitution on structural and magnetic properties of Zn–Cu–Cr ferrites prepared by novel rheological technique

A novel rheological technique was developed to synthesise Gd substituted Zn–Cu–Cr ferrites, Zn_0·6Cu_0·4Cr_0·5Gd_xFe_1·5−xO₄ (x=0·00, 0·02, 0·04, 0·06, 0·08) powders. The effects of the Gd substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of the as prepared Zn–Cu–Cr ferrites were investigated. The microstructure, morphology and magnetic properties of the materials were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. It was shown that the as prepared materials exhibited the single phase spinel structure. The lattice parameters increased while the crystallite sizes decreased with increasing Gd content. The magnetic properties of the as prepared materials were strongly affected by Gd content. The saturation magnetisation decreased, while coercivity increased with increasing Gd content.