Structural, dielectric, and magnetic properties of Pr–Cr co-doped PrxBa1-xCryFe12-yO19 barium hexaferrites

Praseodymium and chromium co-doped barium hexaferrites Pr(x)Ba(1-x)CryFe(12-y)O(19) (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4; y = 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6) were synthesized using sol-gel auto-combustion method. The structural, morpho-logical, compositional, magnetic, and dielectric properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and impedance analyzer, respectively. The pure M-type phase formation was confirmed from XRD data with an average crystallite size of 69 nm. FESEM micrographs showed the platelet-like hexagonal structure of the prepared sample. EDX spectra exhibited the presence of all constituent elements (i.e., Pr, Cr, Ba, Fe, and O). VSM results showed an increase in coercivity for sample S2 (i.e., x = 0.1 and y = 0.4). Then, a decreasing trend in coercivity and saturation magnetization was observed for increasing dopant content. The high-frequency dielectric parameters were investigated up to 3 GHz. Results revealed that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss values of Pr/Cr doped samples are greater than the pure sample. The prepared samples exhibited a hard magnetic nature and good dielectric properties, hence, are considered suitable for magneto -optic, magnetic-recording devices, and high-frequency applications.