Microwave-Hydrothermal Synthesis of Ni0.53Cu0.12Zn0.35Fe2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposites for MLCI

The nanocomposites of NiCuZnFe₂O₄-SiO₂ were prepared using Microwave-Hydrothermal method at 160°C/45 min.The as-synthesized powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).The average particle size of the powders were found to be ～20 nm.The powders were densified at 900°C/30 min using Microwave sintering method. The sintered composite samples were characterized using XRD and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Crystallite size of the ferrites decreases with an increase of SiO₂ content. The density of the composites varies of 93–98% of theoretical density. The densities of the present composites were increasing with the addition of SiO_2. The bulk densities of the present composites were increasing with the addition of SiO₂. The structural changes in these samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) in the 400–4000 cm^?1. The bands in the range of 580–880 cm^?1 show a slight increase in intensity, which could be ascribed to the enhanced interactions between the NiCuZnFe₂O₄ clusters and silica matrix. The resistivity of the sintered samples was increased with an addition of ferrite content. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and permeability were measured in the frequency range of 1 MHz–1.8 GHz.The addition of SiO₂ alters the values of dielectric constant and permeability which is useful to the Multilayer Chip Inductors (MLCI) fabrication.