Structural and Magnetic Properties of Pb-substituted CuFe2O4 Nanoparticles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Physics, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran

2 Functional Materials Lab, Department of Physics, Air University, PAF Complex E-9, Islamabad, Pakistan

10.22075/ppam.2026.39461.1178

Abstract

Lead-substituted copper ferrites (Cu1-xPbxFe2O4, x = 0.0–0.30) were synthesized via a sol–gel auto-combustion route to explore the structural and magnetic effects of Pb²⁺ incorporation. X-ray diffraction confirmed a tetragonal spinel phase (I41/amd) for low Pb content, which gradually evolved into a pseudo-cubic structure at higher substitution levels. The lattice parameters increased systematically with Pb doping, indicating lattice expansion and suppression of Jahn–Teller distortion. FTIR spectra revealed a red shift of both tetrahedral and octahedral metal–oxygen stretching modes, consistent with elongation of M–O bonds and partial Pb2+ occupancy of both sites. Magnetic measurements showed soft-ferromagnetic behavior with a notable increase in saturation magnetization (Ms) up to x = 0.25, followed by a decrease at higher Pb levels due to secondary phase formation and lattice strain. The reduction in coercivity (Hc) with Pb content reflects a weakening of magnetocrystalline anisotropy and lattice relaxation. These results highlight the structural flexibility and magnetic tunability of Pb-substituted CuFe2O4, emphasizing the role of large, nonmagnetic cations in controlling spinel ferrite functionality. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

© 2026 The Author(s). Progress in Physics of Applied Materials published by Semnan University Press. This is an open access article under the CC-BY 4.0 license. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Progress in Physics of Applied Materials
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 12
In Progress
October 2026
Pages 229-238

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  • Receive Date: 21 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 08 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 21 January 2026

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