Effect of pH on structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ by aqueous co-precipitation method

Abstract

The Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG) nanopowders were synthesised at different pH using co-precipitation method. The effect of pH on the phase formation of YIG is characterised using XRD, TEM, FTIR and TG/DTA. From the Scherer formula, the particle sizes of the powders were found to be 13, 19 and 28 nm for pH = 10, 11 and 12 respectively. It is found that as the pH of the solution increase the particle size is also increases. It is also clear from the TG/DTA curves that as the pH is increasing the weight losses were found to be small. The nanopowders were sintered at 600, 700, 800 and 900°C for 5 h using conventional sintering method. The phase formation is completed at 800°C/5 h which is correlated with TG/DTA. The average grain size of the samples is found to be ∼161 nm. The high values of M_s = 23 emu g⁻¹ and H_c = 22 Oe were recorded for the sample sintered at 900°C.

Keywords:

• Ceramics
• Garnets
• Co-precipitation
• TG/DTA
• Magnetic properties

Acknowledgements

One of the authors (Dr K. Praveena) is thankful to UGC, New Delhi for Dr D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Scheme.