Effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on structural, morphological, cation distribution and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline CoFe2O4

Abstract The cobalt ferrite nanoparticles of 20 nm size were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion technique. The samples were irradiated with Nd:YAG laser to understand the effects of irradiation on structural, cation distribution and magnetic properties. The virgin and irradiated samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction technique. The X-ray diffraction studies at room temperature shows that defects were created in the lattice after irradiation which causes effects on structural, cation distribution and magnetic properties. The energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) showed the chemical composition is as per the expected stichiometry. The lattice constant observed from XRD data for virgin and irradiated samples shows increasing trend after irradiation. Cation distribution was investigated by using X-ray diffraction method. We observe decrease in magnetization of the samples after irradiation. The observed reduction in the saturation magnetization after irradiation can be understood on the basis of the partial formation of paramagnetic centers and rearrangement of cations in the lattice.