Data from: Comprehensive analysis of sm-substituted CoFe₂O₄ nanoferrites: Structural insights and functional applications

Samarium-doped nanocrystalline cobalt ferrites with the chemical formula
CoFe2-xSmxO4 were synthesized using the sol-gel auto-combustion method.
The as-prepared samples were characterized by PXRD to confirm the spinel
ferrite phase, and the average crystallite size was 10–20 nm. X-ray peak
profile analysis models revealed that the gradual decrement of the induced
micro-strain led to a low crystallite size with samarium ions. The
characteristic vibrational band of the CoFe2-xSmxO4 samples observed by
FTIR spectroscopy at 548.5 cm-1 confirmed the inverse spinel structure.
The theoretical approach for UV-Visible spectrophotometer data indicates
semiconductor characteristics. The micrographs of the sintered samples
were examined using FESEM, and quantitative analysis was performed using
EDXS. The VSM at room temperature revealed a gradual decrease in the
magnetic anisotropy constant (K), retentivity (Mr), squareness ratio
(SQR), and saturation magnetization (Ms) for all samples, but the
coercivity (Hc) slightly increased at x=0.15%, revealing a weak A-B
interaction observed for the degradation of magnetic energy. The phase
stability evaluated regarding the tolerance factor using the proposed
cationic distribution of the samples showed well-defined values, implying
a mixed inverse spinel structure. The findings reveal the effects of Sm3+
on the structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of Co ferrites
for functional applications.