The electrical conductivity of γ-irradiated and unirradiated finely divided ferrites of composition Fe3O4, CdFe2O4 and Cox Fn1-xFe2O4(0 ≤x ≤ 1) was studied in a nitrogen atmosphere as a function of temperature. Fe3O4, ZnFe2O4 and CdFe2O4 showed n-type conduction, whereas CoFe2O4 showed p-type conduction. For CoxZn1-xFe2O4 it was found that the type of conduction varies with the composition of ferrites. The electrical conduction in Fe3O4, and CoxZn1-xFe2O4(0 ≤x ≤ 1) was explained by a hopping mechanism, whereas the conduction in ZnFe2O4 and in CdFe2O4 is interpreted on the basis of the transfer of charge carriers through cation vacancies present on octahedral sites. The effect of γ-irradiation on the conductivity, activation energy, charge carriers and the conduction mechanism is discussed |
