Structural and electrical properties of Gd3+ ion substituted CoGdxFe(2-x)O4 nano-ferrites

Nano particles of CoGdxFe(2-x)O4, with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 have been prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. The as synthesized particles are annealed at 300 degrees C for two hours to improve crystallinity. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal the single cobalt ferrite phase formation and the average crystallite size decreases to 7 nm in the Gd3+ ion doped sample (with x = 0.5) compared to 27 nm in case of un-doped cobalt ferrite sample. The electrical properties for the different compositions of Gd3+ ion substituted cobalt ferrite material were studied in the frequency range 100 Hz to 10 MHz at room temperature using WK impedance analyzer. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the samples increases with increasing Gd3+ ion concentration. The results of our investigations reveal a strong dependence of material properties on Gd3+ ion doping.