Comparative Study of the Structural and Electrical Properties of Nanoscale Calcium Ferrite Synthesized via Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion and Co-Precipitation Methods

Ghazwa Qahtan  Ali; Sabah Mohammed  Ali

doi:10.17605/cajmns.v6i3.2820

Ghazwa Qahtan Ali Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq
Sabah Mohammed Ali Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/cajmns.v6i3.2820

Keywords: Calcium Ferrite, CaFe2O4, Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion, Co-Precipitation, XRD, VSM, FE-SEM, FTIR, Dielectric Properties, Nanomaterials

Abstract

Calcium ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized using sol-gel auto-combustion and co-precipitation methods to investigate the influence of synthesis technique on structural, magnetic, morphological, and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction confirmed orthorhombic crystal structures in both methods, with enhanced crystallinity observed in sol-gel samples. VSM analysis revealed higher saturation magnetization in sol-gel products, while FE-SEM images showed more uniform particle morphology and reduced agglomeration. FTIR spectra confirmed efficient organic decomposition in sol-gel samples. Additionally, sol-gel-derived nanoparticles exhibited superior dielectric constants and AC conductivity. Overall, the sol-gel method offered better control over phase purity, magnetic strength, and electrical behavior, making it more suitable for advanced applications, while the co-precipitation method remained effective for simpler, cost-efficient synthesis.

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