Nonlinear Optics, Quantum Optics, Vol. 55, pp. 151–158 ©2021 Old City Publishing, Inc.

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A Study of Manganese Ferrite Prepared by the

Solid State Reaction

Abbas Fadhel Hadi* and Zeyad Nabeel Najm

Physics Department, College of Education for Pure Science, Karbala University, Iraq

Received: May 29, 2020. Accepted: September 23, 2020.

In this research, samples of spinel ferrite with chemical formula

(MnFe2O4) were prepared by the method of solid state reaction for
absorbing the electromagnetic X- Band spectrum waves, in the fre-
quency the range of ( 8-12 ) GHz. They were characterized using a
waveguide device. The values of reflection coefficient, absorption coef-
ficient and attenuation coefficient were calculated for all (3) prepared
samples, with sintering temperatures: 1050, 1100 and 1150 °C. The
results show appearance of a number of resonant absorption peaks at the
X-band frequency range. Lowest values of the reflectivity and the high-
est absorption as well as attenuation were observed for samples sintered
ad 1150°C. The results of X-ray diffraction XRD showed a good com-
patibility with standards, except for some secondary phases of the fer-
rite samples.

Kaywords: Solid State Reaction, X-Band, Waveguide, X-Ray Diffraction,

manganese ferrite.

1. Introduction

Generally, the chemical formula of the ferrite is (MFe2O4) where M is a diva-

lent metal ion such as Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, Mn[1].The spinel ferrite exhibits
two types of the magnetic ordering: first of “A” atoms, with spins aligned in
one direction and magnetic ordering of “B” atoms with spins aligned in the

Corresponding author’s e-mail: abbasfadhel7719@yahoo.com

151
152 Abbas Fadhel Hadi and Zeyad Nabeel

opposite one. The magnetic moment of an “A” atom is greater than that of a
“B” atom. This leads to a net magnetization M in the crystal.
The structure of a spinel crystal is made up of the closest possible
packing of oxygen ion layers, with the metallic ions fit in at the inter-
stices. In the spinel crystal structure, the unit cell has 32 oxygen anions.
They are designated by a large sphere because the anions have a larger
atomic radius [2].
The metallic ion position causes three types of the spinel ferrites [3]:

1) Inverse spinel ferrite.

Here the trivalent ferric ion (Fe cation) occupies the A position while the
divalent metallic ions and the remaining trivalent ferric ions occupy the
B position. Most of the simple ferrites, such as e.g. Ni ferrite, are of this
type.
2) Normal spinel ferrite.
Here the 8 metallic ions occupy the A position, while the16 trivalent
metal ions are at the position B It is the case of Cd and Zn ferrites.
3) Random spinel ferrite;

This is an intermediate case between 1 and 2 types, likelike in Mn-Zn and

Ni-Zn ferrites.
Propagation of electromagnetic waves through a material medium is lim-
ited by the parameters describing its intrinsic physical properties, i.e. conduc-
tivity, permittivity, and permeability[4].

2. Experimental

2.1  Mass of Raw Materials

Compound of spinel ferrite with formula (MnFe2O4 )were prepared, as bulk
samples with thickness of 3mm.The weights of the raw materials were accu-
rately calculated from the atomic weights. One mole of MnFe2O4 spinel con-
tains [5] :-

Fe2O3 = (2*55.85) + (3*16) = 159.7 g

MnO =54.94 + 16 = 70.94 g
MnFe2O4 = 70.94 + 159.7 = 230.46 g.

2.2  Waveguide measurements

We used a waveguide device to measure the attenuation of the optical beam
propagating in the medium. By using it one can measure the reflection coef-
ficient by measuring the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio VSWR the in transmis-
sion line [6].
 Manganese Ferrite Prepared by Solid State Reaction 153

The travelling beam intensity is measured by a detector, associated with a scale

of VSWR. The beam attenuation, attenuation coefficient in (dB) unit, is given by [7]:

Attenuation Coefficient = 20 log |R| (1)

where R is the reflection coefficient given by:

Vswr −1
R = (2)
Vswr +1

After calculating the reflection coefficient via eq. (2) one can obtain the
absorbance from the measured reflectivity using the following equation:

R2 + A2 = 1 (3)

where A is the absorption coefficient.

Equation (3) shows that there are two, important parameters only: the
reflection and the absorption coefficients, whereas the transmission coeffi-
cient is equal to zero because of a short-circuit in the waveguide device [8].

2.3 XRD measurements
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed using Cu-Kα
radiation with wavelength λ = 1.5406 Å. Phase analysis was done to inspect
the structure of the samples after the sintering. The measurements, performed
at the Braggs angles: 2θ=20˚- 70˚allowed (Fig. 3) to determine the interpla-
nar distances d in several (hkl) planes by using the Braggs diffraction law [9]:

2dsinθ = nλ (4)

The calculated interplanar distances d can be compared with the international

standards data, published by International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD).
They represent the American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM)[10].

3.  Results and Discussion

The absorbance measurements of MnFe2O4 were performed in the X-band

range (8-12 GHz) for the samples sintered at 1050°C, 1100°C, and 1150°C.
The VSWR, R, Attenuation Coeff., R2, and A2 parameters were derived and
their values are reported in Tables 1-3. Figures 1 and 2 show the relationship
between the attenuation coefficient and the absorbance versus frequency for
the three sintering temperatures, respectively.
154 Abbas Fadhel Hadi and Zeyad Nabeel

Table 1
Parameters measured for MnFe2O4 samples sintered at 1050 °C.

Atten. Coeff. (dB) A2 R2 R Vswr Freq. (GHz)

-8.40 0.856 0.144 0.38 2.23 8
-14.42 0.964 0.036 0.19 1.47 8.5
-7.54 0.824 0.176 0.42 2.45 9
-6.94 0.797 0.203 0.45 2.64 9.5
-9.90 0.898 0.102 0.32 1.94 10
-6.74 0.788 0.212 0.46 2.70 10.5
-5.68 0.730 0.270 0.52 3.17 11
-10.17 0.904 0.096 0.31 1.90 11.5
-4.88 0.675 0.325 0.57 3.65 12

Table 2
Parameters measured for MnFe2O4 samples sintered at 1100 °C.

Atten. Coeff. (dB) A2 R2 R Vswr Freq. (GHz)

-11.37 0.927 0.073 0.27 1.79 8
-12.04 0.937 0.063 0.25 1.67 8.5
-8.87 0.870 0.130 0.36 2.13 9
-8.40 0.856 0.144 0.38 2.23 9.5
-11.06 0.922 0.078 0.28 1.78 10
-5.68 0.730 0.270 0.52 3.17 10.5
-4.88 0.675 0.325 0.57 3.65 11
-8.40 0.856 0.144 0.38 2.23 11.5
-4.15 0.616 0.384 0.62 4.26 12

Table 3
Parameters measured for MnFe2O4 samples sintered at 1150 °C.

Atten. Coeff. (dB) A2 R2 R Vswr Freq. (GHz)

-12.04 0.937 0.063 0.25 1.68 8
-14.89 0.968 0.032 0.18 1.44 8.5
-11.37 0.927 0.073 0.27 1.74 9
-9.90 0.898 0.102 0.32 1.94 9.5
-12.04 0.937 0.063 0.25 1.67 10
-9.63 0.891 0.109 0.33 1.98 10.5
-7.33 0.815 0.185 0.43 2.51 11
-11.37 0.927 0.073 0.27 1.74 11.5
-6.20 0.760 0.240 0.49 2.92 12
 Manganese Ferrite Prepared by Solid State Reaction 155

Figure 1
Frequency dependence of the attenuation coefficient for the studied MnFe2O4 samples with dif-
ferent sintering temperatures.

Figure 2
Frequency dependence of the MnFe2O4 samples absorbance for the for different sintering tem-
peratures.
156 Abbas Fadhel Hadi and Zeyad Nabeel

From Tables 1-3 it is noted that the values of VSWR vary with frequency.
All the parameters, such as reflection coefficient, attenuation coefficient,
reflectivity and absorbance, were changed due to the dependence of absorp-
tion of ferrites on the frequency.
Also it is noticed that the decrease VSWR , reflectivity and reflection coef-
ficient, and increase of absorbance and attenuation coefficient (negative
value) reveal that the best desired results occur when the VSWR values are at
minimum. We observe also that the reported parameters of all studied sam-
ples, given in Tables 1-3 depend on the sintering temperature.
The attenuation coefficient for samples sintered at 1050°C exhibit the
largest values: -14.42, -10.17 dB at frequencies 8.5 and 11.5 GHz, respec-
tively. With sintering temperature 1100°C they are -12.04 and -11.06 dB at
the frequencies (8.5,10) GHz respectively. When sintered at temperature
1150°C the attenuation coefficients are (-14.89, -12.04, -11.37) dB at fre-
quencies (8.5, 10, 11.5) GHz, respectively, as shown in figure1. The best
values of absorbance are observed with sintering at 1150°C (see figure 2).
Figures 1 and 2 show the attenuation coefficient peaks observed at fre-
quencies 8.5, 10, 11.5 GHz for with sintering temperatures 1050°C, 1100°C
and 1150°C. The peaks overlap to become one peak due to the matching
between the values of the relative permittivity (εr) and the relative permeabil-
ity (µr) with sintering temperatures 1050°C and 1150°C, and at 8.5 GHz fre-
quency (sintering at 1050°C).
Figure (3) shows the XRD patterns for MnFe2O4 compound that demon-
strate the completion phase of the spinel structure, which obviously is a poly-

Figure 3
XRD pattern of MnFe2O4.
 Manganese Ferrite Prepared by Solid State Reaction 157

Table 4
Comparison of the interplanar distances d for (hkl) planes for the studied MnFe2O4 ferrite
obtained from XRD patterns with (2θ°) with those reported by ASTM.

2θº d(Å) EXP. d(Å) ASTM hkl

30.01 2.906 2.950 220
35.12 2.484 2.515 311
42.51 2.369 2.414 400
52.95 2.081 2.078 422
56.34 1.812 1.890 333.51
62.03 1.467 1.481 440

crystalline one. The patternq exhibits the Bragg reflection at the diffraction
angles (2θº), which give us ability to calculate the interplanar distances (d).
The obtained results match perfectly with the international standard (ICDD)
as shown in table (4).

4. Conclusion

At the X-Band frequencies, especially at (8.5, 10, 11.5) GHz a number of

resonance peaks appear for all samples. A significant influence of the sinter-
ing temperature on the attenuation coefficient and the absorption in the stud-
ied ferrite materials was observed. Furthermore, at the best sintering
temperature (1150°C) the samples have shown the best values of the absorp-
tivity and the attenuation coefficient. A compatibility between the XRD
results and the standard (ASTM) values is observed.

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