Spinel ferrites, represented as MFe₂O₄, are magnetic oxides known for their wide-ranging functionality. Their magnetic characteristics can be finely controlled by replacing certain cations, which makes them highly valuable for applications in high...
Spinel ferrites, represented as MFe₂O₄, are magnetic oxides known for their wide-ranging functionality. Their magnetic characteristics can be finely controlled by replacing certain cations, which makes them highly valuable for applications in high-frequency systems, microwave technologies, and spintronics. The magnetism in these materials from superexchange interactions between cations located in the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites of their cubic spinel structure. Replacing iron (Fe2+) with nickel (Ni²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) ions notably alters these interactions by changing how cations are distributed, affecting the structure’s symmetry, and influencing the magnetic properties. While much is known about the static magnetic traits of NiFe₂O₄ and MnFe₂O₄, less is understood about how Ni/Mn substitution impacts their dynamic magnetic behavior—especially in terms of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) damping and how efficiently they generate heat under resonance, particularly at the nanoscale, where surface irregularities and structural disorder strongly affect spin movement.
This study explores the structural and magnetic properties, including FMR behavior, of Ni1-xMnxFe₂O₄ ferrites (0 ≤ Mn ≤0.9), which were synthesized hydrothermal methods. By systematically varying the Ni/Mn ratio, it will affect how cation substitution influences lattice structure, particle shape, cation distribution, and the strength of A–O–B superexchange interactions (SEI). A range of magnetic measurements, such as saturation magnetization (Ms) and FMR damping were taken. Additionally, high frequency heating tests were conducted at 4 GHz with an AC magnetic field of 13.57 Oe to measure how much energy heat dissipation (Q̅res) of the materials.
Magnetic measurements revealed a linear enhancement in saturation magnetization (Ms) with increasing Manganese content, reaching a maximum of 76.98 emu/g at Mn= 0.7. Langevin function analysis indicated a simultaneous reduction in the effective magnetic moment (µ) and average magnetic particle size (Dm). The dynamic magnetic properties, evaluated via Vector Network Analyzer Ferromagnetic Resonance (VNA-FMR), demonstrated a strong dependence on composition. The sample with Mn= 0.7 exhibited the highest Gilbert damping constant (α= 0.0660) and the largest g-factor (ɡ = 2.056). Remarkably, this composition achieved the maximum temperature rise (∆Tmax= 200K) under a high-frequency field, despite having a lower energy dissipation rate (Q̅res = 0.3882 MW/g) compared to the Mn=0.9 sample. These findings establish that efficient heat generation in this system is governed not merely by power absorption but by SOC-assisted relaxation mechanisms.
The composition of Ni₀.₃Mn₀.₇Fe₂O₄ offers the most favorable combination of structural stability, high magnetization, damping, optimized SOC, and efficient FMR-driven heating, making it a promising candidate for high-frequency applications requiring precise magnetic energy conversion and controlled thermal dissipation.