Finite size effect on Gd3+ doped CoGdxFe2-xO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) particles

Nanoparticles of CoGdxFe2-xO4 (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) series have been prepared by chemical co-precipitation. The effect of Gd3+ ion concentration on crystalline phase, crystallinity, crystallite size, molecular vibrations and magnetic resonance has been investigated in detail. The crystallinity decreases with an increase in Gd3+ ion concentration and changes the structural parameters. The spin lattice relaxation has been correlated with the doping ion concentration. Similarly, the superparamagnetic behavior of these particles has been observed with EPR spectroscopy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.