International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 1, Issue6, November-2012 1 ISSN 2278-7763 Copyright © 2012 SciResPub. Synthesis and charcterization of Nanocrystalline NiCuZn Ferrite prepared by Sol-gel auto combution method. Sopan M. Rathod*. Ashok B. Shinde PG Department Of Physics, Abasaheb Garware College, Karawe Road, Pune-04, India. Corresponding Auther: Dr.S.M.Rathod, Email: smragc@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT Promising future applications of ferrite nanoparticles in medicine, making many devices like permanent magnets, memory stor- age devices etc. Ferrite nanoparticles have been the emerging focus of the recent scientific research. Therefore nanostructured powders of ferrites having chemical compositions [Ni0.8-xCu0.2Znxfe2O4], where x=0.3, 0.5, synthesised through nitrate citrate by sol-gel autocombustion method from stoichiometric mixture of their respective metal nitrate. The prepared powders were sin- tered at 400 0 C and 600 0 C for 4 hours. The structural, morphology, ferrite formation of powder were determined by X-ray pow- der diffractometry (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photograph of the samples and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy tech- nique. The X-ray revealed the formation of nano-sized ferrite particles with cubic spinel structure and the cubic phase in the fer- rite matrix. The IR shows the characteristic ferrite bonds were confirmed. The average crystalline particles sized were calculated by Scherrer formula. The average crystalline size obtained from XRD was found between 40 and 44nm. The lattice parameters, X-ray density and bond length are different parameters are calculated from XRD patterns. The UV-Visible Spectroscopy of pre- pared sample shows that the band gap energy in the range of semiconductor materials. The Coercivity was found to change in proportionally and sintering temperature with the particle sizes of the investigated ferrites. Keywords : NiCuZn Nanocrystalline ferrite,IR,XRD,SEM,VSM, UV. 1 INTRODUCTION HE Recent interest in the study of several spinel types ferrites is in terms of the synthesis of their nanoparticles at low temperatures by different techniques, in view of the potential applications of these nanosized magnetic materials in different technological areas, as well as to study the intri- guing magnetic properties of the nano-ferrite materials has been increased. The magnetic properties of the nanosized fer- rites are entirely different from those of their bulk counter- parts, such as the superparamagnetic behavior and associated properties. Nanosized ferrites with uniform particle size and narrow size distribution are desirable for a variety of applica- tions like targeted drug delivery, ferrofluids, medical imaging and other biomedical applications, magnetic data storage, etc, [1-4] . Presently, NiCuZn ferrites have been the dominant materi- als for MLFCI (Multi Layer Ferrite Chip Inductors) due to its low sintering temperature (<950°C) and good electromagnetic properties in radio frequency range, good chemical stability. In addition, NiCuZn ferrites have better high frequency properties compared to that of MnZn ferrite and low densification temperatures than NiZn ferrites [5, 6] . If the dielectric properties can be effectively im- proved on the premise of low loss of the permeability, the fer- rite has the potential application in the multi-layer electro- magnetic interference filter (EMIF) as the material for both inductor layer and capacitor layer. [7] . The Ni–Zn ferrites are considered as the most versa- tile ferrites for their high resistivity and low eddy current loss- es. Electrical conductivity of nickel ferrite changes with Zn content and it is found to be minimum in the case of Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4. The substitution of Cu brings about a struc- tural phase transition accompanied by the reduction in the crystal symmetry [8] . 2 EXPERIMENTALMETHODOLOGY 2.1 Review Stage Analytical grade Nickel nitrate, copper nitrate, zinc nitrate, iron nitrate and citric acid were used stoichiometrically to prepare the ferrite compositions (Ni0.3Cu0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4) and (Ni0.5Cu0.2Zn0.3Fe2O4.) The specified amount of metal nitrate and citric acid was first dissolved in to deionized water to form the sol. Ammonia was also slowly added to the sol to adjust the pH value at about 7. During this procedure, the sol was continuously stirred by a magnetic agitator. Then the sol was heated at 100 0 C with continuous stirring till it transforms into a xerogel. At a proper temperature ignition started and the dried gel burnt in a self-propagating combustion manner until all the gel was burnt out completely to form a fluffy loose powder. The entire combustion process was done in a few minutes. Finally, the as-burnt powders were sintered in the muffle furnace at 400–600 0 C for 4 hours with a heating rate of 10 0 C /min to obtain the single phase ferrite. An infrared spectrum (IR) of the as-burnt powder sintered at 600 0 C was recorded on a spectrophotometer from 400 to 4000 cm -1 by the KBr pellet method. The phase identification of the calcined powders was per- formed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a X-ray diffractometer using CuKα radiation (K= 1.5405 A°). Powder X-ray diffraction studies (XRD) have been carried out on the sintered samples at 400 0 C and 600 0 C for Ni0.3 Cu0.2 Zn0.5 Fe2 O4 as well as Ni0.5 Cu0.2 T