Cation distribution and inversion parameter in multicomponent spinel nanoferrites AₓB0.5-xZn0.5Fe2O4 (A,B=Ni, Mn, Co) based on XRD analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Physics, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

10.22128/ijcm.2026.3123.1018

Abstract

In this study, multicomponent spinel nanoferrites with the general formula AₓB0.5-xZn0.5Fe2O4 (A,B=Ni, Mn, Co) were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method at three substitution levels (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5) to investigate the effect of divalent ion substitution on crystal structure and cation distribution. XRD patterns confirmed that all samples exhibited a single-phase cubic spinel structure. With increasing x, the lattice parameter and crystallite size showed systematic variations attributed to ionic radius differences and changes in cation site occupancy. Analysis of relative diffraction peak intensities and theoretical calculations revealed that the degree of inversion (δ) ranged from 0.35 to 0.45, indicating a partially inverse structure. The nonlinear behavior of δ with increasing x was ascribed to competition between the preference of divalent ions for B sites and the migration of Fe3+ ions. The results demonstrate a consistent correlation among chemical composition, lattice parameter, and cation distribution.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy
Volume 33, Issue 4 - Serial Number 100
January 2026
Pages 827-838

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 July 2025

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