~ 175 ~ ISSN Print: 2394-7500 ISSN Online: 2394-5869 Impact Factor: 5.2 IJAR 2016; 2(5): 175-180 www.allresearchjournal.com Received: 07-03-2016 Accepted: 08-04-2016 AS Jagadisha Department of Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta, Karnataka, India-577 451 E Nagaraja Department of Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta, Karnataka, India-577 451 NB Desai Department of Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta, Karnataka, India-577 451 HS Jayanna Department of Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta, Karnataka, India-577 451 Correspondence HS Jayanna Department of Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta, Karnataka, India-577 451 Effect of gamma ray irradiation on structural and electrical properties of Mg(1-x)Znx Ferrite AS Jagadisha, E Nagaraja, NB Desai, HS Jayanna Abstract The Mg-Zn ferrites with a composition of Mg(1-x)ZnxFe204 (X= 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) ferrite powders have been successfully prepared by solid state reaction. Phase purity of the samples has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Morphological and elemental compositions of the prepared samples were studied by high resolution scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The prepared samples were irradiated by high energy gamma radiation of 60 Co source of dose rate 6.972 k Gy per hour (dose: 300 kGy and 500 kGy). The XRD spectra are obtained for the irradiated samples and compared with that of the pristine samples to study the changes in the structure. The DC electrical conductivity at room temperature was studied. The obtained result shows an increase in crystallite size and DC electrical conductivity at room temperature with increase of radiation dose and decrease in activation energies. Keywords: gamma irradiation, Mg Zn ferrite, magnetic materials 1. Introduction In the field of technological applications, the ferrites have gained a much importance due to their combined characteristics of magnetic conductors and electrical insulators. The polycrystalline ferrites have a wide range of applications in microwave to radiowave frequencies of electromagnetic spectrum [1] . Ferrites with spinel structure represent the important class of magnetic materials. The combination of magnetic and electrical properties makes ferrite useful in many technological applications The electrical and magnetic properties of such ferrites depend strongly on distribution of cations at the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites in the lattice [2, 3] . It has been identified that zinc ions may be used to modify the saturation magnetization. It was observed that the addition of zinc ions also affects the lattice parameter and it would be expected to change the Curie temperature of the material [4] . The replacement of divalent ions in pure ferrite leads to the modification of the structural, electrical and magnetic properties [5] . A special feature of these materials is that these materials are used in different range of frequencies by substituting different ions in the chemical formula unit and the control of the processing steps. Ferrites are broadly used in magnetic recording, information storage, colour imaging, bio-processing, magnetic refrigeration and in magneto optical devices [6, 7] . The irradiation of energetic radiation on the certain materials may produce the changes permanently [8] . The radiation induced change in these materials depends on absorbed energy by the material. Hence it has gained importance in the recent years due to large inventions in the field of electronic and technological industries, nuclear facilities, accelerators, space crafts, space vehicles and satellites. Gamma radiations can produce defects of various types such as point defect, cluster, and ionization of atoms. The effect of gamma radiation on several ferrites are reported, [9, 13] . The absorption of large amount of gamma radiation may alter the structural properties. The earlier reports were says, both diffusion co efficient of oxygen ion and the lattice parameter were increased in case of Co-Zn ferrite by gamma rays [11] . And also dielectric, thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity of Co Zn ferrite [7, 23] and electrical Properties of Mg-Cu-Zn ferrites were studied [17] . The gamma irradiation improves the magnetic properties of Mg –Mn and Mn-Ni ferrite nano particles [12] . International Journal of Applied Research 2016; 2(5): 175-180