Magnetic and dielectric properties study of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation method

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method and were heat treated at 100 °C, 200 °C, 400°C and 600°C for 2 h to increase the particle size. Phase purity of samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Scherrer formula calculations showed crystallite size varied from 12 to 24 nm when heated from 100 °C to 600 °C Transmission electron microscopy reveals a uniform and narrow particle size distribution about 12 nm for as-prepared cobalt ferrite particles. Room temperature saturation magnetization was found to vary from 40.8 to 67.0 emu/g as the particle size increased from 12 nm to 24 nm. Increase in saturation magnetization with increase in particle size was attributed to the presence of magnetic inert layer on the surface of nanoparticles. Inert layer thickness calculated at 10 K and 300 K was 6 Å and 11 Å respectively. The dielectric properties ε′, tanδ, Z and θ have been studied as a function of frequency and particles size. For the 12 nm grain size, the dielectric constant is one order higher than that of bulk cobalt ferrite. Increase in the grain size showed an increase in the dielectric constant. The increase in the conductivity with grain size is mainly due to the grain size effects. The present study shows that the dielectric properties can be tailor-made to suit the requirement of a particular application by controlling the grain size. © 2011 Materials Research Society.