Magnetodielectric, elastic, Rietveld refinement and absorption properties of Nd–Cu co-doped Co–Zn nano ferrites: Development of meta-absorbers for wide frequency regime

Currently, Electromagnetic (EM) pollution is harmful to human health because of the generation and propagation of high-frequency EM waves from electronic devices. The absorbing materials with outstanding properties are highly desirable. Meta-absorbers with extraordinary electromagnetic wave absorption, outstanding EM shielding ability, and featured dissipation efficiency are still worth challenging in the surrounding environments. The meta-absorbers were fabricated, designed, and simulated to address the challenges. Nd–Co co-doped Co–Zn spinel nano ferrites (Co 0.5 Zn 0.5-x Cu x Fe 2-y Nd y O 4 with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, y = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) were prepared. XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and VSM were used to study the structure, phase, vibrational, elastic, and magnetic features of the Nd–Co co-doped Co–Zn ferrites, respectively. Rietveld refinement of the Nd–Co co-doped Co–Zn ferrites was evaluated by FullProf software. Wyckoff locations and occupancy of the already present cations and anions were refined. The bond lengths and unshared-shared edges were determined using the Bertaut method. The detailed phase occurrence, force constant, and elastic features of Nd–Co co-doped Co–Zn ferrites were also investigated. The mixed shapes of grains like elliptical, circular, and hexagons were noticed from FESEM images. The magnetization and coercivity were reduced with the Nd–Cu doping. Switching field and high-frequency response were also presented for the Nd–Cu co-doped Co–Zn ferrite. The dielectric properties like complex permittivity and permeability depicted higher response at high frequency due to interfacial polarization in prepared ferrites. The reflection loss (RL) of −74.1 dB was noticed at 1.99 GHz for x = 0.4, y = 0.08. However, the reflection loss of −63.9 dB at 2.24 GHz was observed for x = 0.5, y = 0.1. Meta-absorbers of Nd–Cu co-doped NiZn were designed and simulated. The wideband absorptivity is depicted for Nd–Cu co-doped CoZn ferrite as substrate material at x = 0.0 y = 0.00, x = 0.1 y = 0.02, and the absorptivity remains highest for θ  = 0 deg. The absorptivity significantly reduces with the increase of incidence angle. Meta-absorbers based on Nd–Cu co-doped Co–Zn ferrites are good future candidates for EMI (electromagnetic interference), MLCIs (multilayer chip inductors), electromagnetic shielding, and 5G-mobile antenna purposes in high-frequency applications.