TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the Structural, Electrical, Magnetic, and Optoelectronic Properties of Sol−Gel Synthesized Cu−Fe Spinel Cobaltite for Advanced Multifunctional Applications
AU - Hcini, Sobhi
AU - Hcini, Fakher
AU - Knani, Salah
AU - Kayed, Tarek S.
AU - Charguia, Raihane
AU - Mallah, Abdulrahman
AU - Albadri, A. E.A.E.
AU - Bouazizi, M. L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
PY - 2025/11
Y1 - 2025/11
N2 - The structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of sol-gel-synthesized Cu0.5Fe0.5Co2O4 spinel cobaltite are investigated in this work. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms a phase-pure cubic spinel structure. Electrical characterization reveals semiconducting behavior governed by the Non-overlapping Small Polaron Tunneling (NSPT) model, with conductivity spectra aligning with the Random Barrier Model (RBM). Low activation energies (52 meV from DC conductivity and 41 meV from relaxation time) highlight enhanced charge carrier mobility and superior electrical transport. Dielectric responses are attributed to Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization, as supported by impedance spectroscopy, which reveals distinct relaxation dynamics. The temperature dependence of resistance indicates a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) in the sample. Magnetic studies demonstrate soft ferrimagnetic behavior, characterized by a low coercive field (132 Oe) and operational frequencies in the microwave range (1.3–1.4 GHz), ideal for high-frequency applications. Optical measurements reveal lower bandgap energies (1.65 eV and 2.25 eV), reduced Urbach energy, a minimal extinction coefficient (~ 10−5), and notable nonlinear optical parameters, underscoring the material’s potential for optoelectronic devices. Compared to pristine CuCo2O4, Fe substitution enhances resistivity, magnetization, and carrier mobility. This indicates that Fe substitution offers an opportunity to improve the functional properties of copper cobaltite.
AB - The structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of sol-gel-synthesized Cu0.5Fe0.5Co2O4 spinel cobaltite are investigated in this work. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms a phase-pure cubic spinel structure. Electrical characterization reveals semiconducting behavior governed by the Non-overlapping Small Polaron Tunneling (NSPT) model, with conductivity spectra aligning with the Random Barrier Model (RBM). Low activation energies (52 meV from DC conductivity and 41 meV from relaxation time) highlight enhanced charge carrier mobility and superior electrical transport. Dielectric responses are attributed to Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization, as supported by impedance spectroscopy, which reveals distinct relaxation dynamics. The temperature dependence of resistance indicates a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) in the sample. Magnetic studies demonstrate soft ferrimagnetic behavior, characterized by a low coercive field (132 Oe) and operational frequencies in the microwave range (1.3–1.4 GHz), ideal for high-frequency applications. Optical measurements reveal lower bandgap energies (1.65 eV and 2.25 eV), reduced Urbach energy, a minimal extinction coefficient (~ 10−5), and notable nonlinear optical parameters, underscoring the material’s potential for optoelectronic devices. Compared to pristine CuCo2O4, Fe substitution enhances resistivity, magnetization, and carrier mobility. This indicates that Fe substitution offers an opportunity to improve the functional properties of copper cobaltite.
KW - CuFeCoO Spinel
KW - Magnetic applications
KW - NSPT
KW - NTCR
KW - Optoelectronic devices
KW - X-ray Diffraction
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105006707897
U2 - 10.1007/s10904-025-03829-x
DO - 10.1007/s10904-025-03829-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105006707897
SN - 1574-1443
VL - 35
SP - 9304
EP - 9327
JO - Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials
JF - Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials
IS - 11
ER -