Preparation and study of ferrite garnet R3Fe5O12 (R=Y, Gd, Dy) nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of Y₃Fe₅O₁₂, Gd₃Fe₅O₁₂ and Dy₃Fe₅O₁₂ nanoparticles by sol-gel method using initial salts solution of Y(NO₃)₃, Gd(NO₃)₃, Dy(NO­₃)_3, Fe(NO­₃).  The lattice constant, crystallite  size and particle morphology of  these ferrite garnet nanoparticles were studied by using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the garnet samples prepared by this method were formed at 800^oC, which is lower than the sintering temperature for ceramic bulk samples (1400^oC). The particle size is in the range 25-40 nm as observed via TEM image and the average particle size was found to be 37nm using Debye- Scherrer formula.