Effect of Mg doping on magnetic,and dielectric properties of NiCr2O4 nanoparticles

The structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of spinel Magnesium (Mg) doped Nickel chromite (NiCr₂O₄) nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied in detail. The X-ray powder diffraction exhibited normal spinel phase formation of Mg_xNi_1-xCr₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 1) NPs with a maximum average crystallite size of about 44 nm for x = 0.2 composition. The FTIR spectra of these NPs revealed the characteristic Ni–O and Mg–O and Cr–O bands around 639 cm^?1 and 497 cm^?1, respectively which confirmed the spinel structure. Temperature-dependent zero field cooled and field cooled graphs of NiCr₂O₄ NPs showed phase changes from ferrimagnetic to paramagnetic state at 86 K, while MgCr₂O₄ NPs showed antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at Neel temperature (T_N) at 15 K due to corner-sharing of Cr³⁺ ions at a tetrahedral lattice site resulting in a highly magnetic frustrated structure. The field dependent magnetization (M ? H) loops of Mg_xNi_1-xCr₂O₄ NPs confirmed the competing AFM interactions and ferrimagnetic interactions resulting in a sharp decreased saturation magnetization with Mg doping. Dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and ac conductivity of these NPs showed size-dependent variation and depicted maximum value at x = 0.2 Mg concentration. In summary, the magnetic and dielectric properties of Mg doped NiCr₂O₄ NPs were modified by variations in the average crystallite size and magnetic exchange interactions, which may be suitable for different technological applications.