Transport Properties of Polycrystalline Mixed Copper-Zinc Ferrites

Polycrystalline mixed Cu-Zn spinel ferrites with general formula Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) have been prepared by solid-state reaction method. The effect of Zn2+ ions on transport properties such as DC and AC resistivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent has been presented in this paper. The resistivity increases with Zn content and decreases with frequency which have been explained by Verway's hopping mechanism. Decrease of DC electrical resistivity with increasing temperature has been observed and activation energy has been found to increase with increasing Zn content. The dielectric constant is found to decrease with increasing Zn content as well as increasing of frequency has been explained on the basis of space charge polarization. In this communication, an attempt has been made to explain the conduction mechanism of Cu-Zn ferrites on the basis of electronic hopping frequency between Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions.