Effect of Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Strontium Hexaferrites

Swift heavy ion irradiation of material is a unique tool to modify the properties of the material and it provides an alternative to photons for introducing electronic excitations into the material. In the present investigation, the changes in structural, morphological and magnetic properties of SrFe12O19 ferrite (prepared using co-precipitation and SHS routes), induced by 200 MeV Ag+16 ion irradiation have been studied. In order to study the effect of the electronic stopping power (dE/dX) e on these properties the energy of the projectile was so chosen that it could easily pass through the samples. Structural properties of these ferrites have been studied and compared with the properties after Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) irradiation of 200 MeV Ag16+ at different fluences. Samples were characterized using different experimental techniques, like Fourier Transform Infra-red (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electrom Microscope (SEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and LCR meter. FTIR spectra for pristine as well as the irradiated samples were recorded for wave number ranges from 4000-400 cm-1 using the KBr pellet method. FTIR measurement of the bonds' vibration modes in all samples were carried out to determine the change in MO bonding due to irradiation. The MO absorption band is observed in all samples. The intensity of absorption bands increased in irradiated samples, which confirms the formation of strong ferric oxide band. Crystallinity of pristine and irradiated samples was investigated by XRD technique. All XRD peaks were indexed using POWDER X software. XRD result confirms the formation of mono phase. It is observed from XRD analysis that after the irradiation, the intensity of all the peaks and FWHM were increased. There is no significant change in peak position but the intensity is decreased and FWHM is increased continuously with ion fluence. XRD patterns confirm that the ferrite structure is retained even after irradiation. Surface morphology of pristine and irradiated samples was studied using a scanning electron microscopy. It is observed from SEM images that the particle size decreases after irradiation and particles become more homogeneous. Dielectric and magnetic measurements were also carried out.