Elastic and dielectric properties of nano-crystalline Dy3+ substituted zinc–chromium ferrite

The structural, elastic and dielectric properties of ZnCr_0.5Dy_xFe_1.5−xO₄ ferrite system where x = 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 was investigated and reported herein. Ferrite samples were synthesized by the sol–gel auto-combustion method. The structural, morphological, elastic and dielectric properties were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), infra-red spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dielectric measurements. XRD and TEM analysis confirmed the nanocrystalline nature of all the prepared samples. Elastic moduli such as longitudinal wave velocity (V_l), shear wave velocity (V_S), stiffness constant (C₁₁, C₁₂), mean wave velocity (V_m), rigidity modulus (G), bulk modulus (K), Young modulus (E), Poisson ratio (σ) and Debye temperature (θ_E) was calculated from the IR data. Dielectric properties were investigated by using the two-probe technique. The substitution of rare-earth Dy ions alter the structural, elastic and dielectric properties of ZnCr_0.5Dy_xFe_1.5−xO₄ ferrite system. The mechanisms involved are discussed in the manuscript.