Effect of pH and annealing temperature on the structural and magnetic properties of cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet powders produced by the sol-gel method

Cerium substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce0.2Y2.8Fe5O12; Ce-YIG) nanoparticles were produced via the sol-gel method from solutions of Ce-, Y- and Fe-based precursors, a solvent and a chelating agent. The solutions were dried at 200 degrees C and heat treated at temperatures between 800 degrees C and 1400 degrees C for 3 h in air. The effects of pH and annealing temperature on the structure, phase formation, magnetic properties and crystallite size were investigated. A cubic YIG phase was obtained for the sample annealed at 1400 degrees C. The presented results showed that the pH value of the starting solution affects the crystal size and consequently, the saturation magnetization.