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.