@article{Wu2026, 
author = {Tao Wu and Chaoming Wang and Zenan Ma and Zhenyu He and Xiaofeng Zhang and Zhongwen Lan and Zhong Yu and Xiaona Jiang and Qifan Li and Chuanjian Wu and Ke Sun},
title = {Optimizing magnetic and electrical properties of MnZn ferrites via spatially engineered Ni distribution},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Ceramics},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {9221240},
keywords = {manganese-zinc (MnZn) ferrites, Ni distribution, magnetic domains, superexchange interaction},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JAC.2026.9221240},
doi = {10.26599/JAC.2026.9221240},
abstract = {Manganese-zinc (MnZn) ferrites are widely employed in electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression due to their favorable magnetic properties. However, their practical performance is often constrained by the inherent trade-offs among key magnetic properties, such as initial permeability (μi), standardized impedance (Z0), saturation magnetic induction (Bs), and Curie temperature (Tc). Here, we demonstrate a strategy that simultaneously enhances these properties by combining trace Ni doping with precise control of the sintering atmosphere. The low Ni concentration, together with a carefully regulated oxygen partial pressure, suppresses the diffusion driving force of Ni2+, leading to its spatially nonuniform distribution and preferential segregation at grain boundaries. This localized Ni enrichment facilitates the formation of transgranular magnetic domains across significant crystallographic misorientation grains. Furthermore, Ni-rich grain boundaries promote the migration of Fe3+ from octahedral (B) sites to tetrahedral (A) sites, thereby increasing the A−B and A−A bond angles, shortening the corresponding bond lengths, and strengthening the superexchange interactions within the spinel lattice. As a result of this spatially engineered Ni distribution, the optimized MnZn ferrite exhibits significantly improved properties, including a μi of 11,648 at 10 kHz, Z0 of 43 Ω·mm−1 at 1 MHz, Bs of 524 mT at 1 kHz, 1194 A·m−1, and Tc of 174 °C, outperforming conventional MnZn ferrites. This work highlights spatial compositional engineering as a viable route to advanced soft magnetic materials for next-generation EMI suppression technologies.}
}