Self-ignited synthesis of Mg–Gd–Mn nanoferrites and impact of cation distribution on the dielectric properties

Abstract Mg 0.9 Mn 0.1 Gd x Fe 2− x O 4 nanoferrites were processed for the first time by a solution combustion technique. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the spinel cubic structure of the synthesized ferrites. The particle size was observed to increase (13–16 nm) with an increase in Gd 3+ ion content. The cation distribution is inferred from the X-ray diffraction. It is observed from cation distribution that Gd 3+ ions preferred octahedral (B) sites. The DC resistivity was found to be increasing with an increase in Gd 3+ content. The dielectric constant e′ and loss tangent (tan δ ) was observed to decrease with the addition of Gd 3+ content as well as with the increase in frequency. The variations in DC resistivity as well as dielectric constant with the increasing substitution of Gd 3+ ions have been correlated to the cation distribution. The very high values of DC resistivity (~10 8 Ω cm) and low values of loss tangent (0.9–0.008) are the prime achievements of this work.