Comparative studies of the structural and electrical studies of conventional and microwave sintered Li0.35 Ni0.1Mn0.1Zn0.2Fe2.35O4 synthesized by the citrate precursor method

Substituted lithium ferrite having the chemical formula Li0.35 Ni0.1 Mn0.1 Zn0.2 Fe2.35 O4  have been synthesized by the citrate precursor method. The sample was given pre-sintering at 650oC in a conventional furnace. Final sintering was carried out at 900oC in a conventional surface and another in a microwave furnace. The spinel phase structure of the conventional (CS) and microwave sintered (MS) samples was confirmed by the XRD patterns. From the analysis of XRD data, the crystallite size of the samples was estimated and smaller crystallite size was observed in the microwave sintered sample. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was also carried out. The dielectric studies were investigated. Room temperature dielectric constant ( ) and dielectric loss (tan d) were studied as a function of frequency. Experimental results show dispersion for variation of dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent with frequency for both CS and MS sample. However, microwave sintered sample show lower dielectric constant and losses. Possible mechanism is being discussed. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press.