Abstract: In this paper, the synthesis, structural and microstructural properties of zirconium (Zr4+) doped nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanocrystals prepared by sol-gel auto combustion technique have been reported. Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) was used as a fuel; the pH was maintained at 7 and the prepared samples were sintered at 700 °C for 6 h. The single phase nanocrystalline nature of the Ni1.5Zr0.5Fe1.0O4 was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The microstructural studies were investigated through Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The average particle size was calculated by using Debye-Scherer’s formula using XRD data and is obtained to be 32 nm. The average grain size was found to be in nanometer range and found to be 52 nm obtained by using SEM images.

Keywords: Nanocrystalline, nickel ferrite, sol-gel, XRD, SEM.