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 (Ce_0.2Y_2.8Fe₅O₁₂; 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°C and heat treated at temperatures between 800 °C and 1400°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 °C. The presented results showed that the pH value of the starting solution affects the crystal size and consequently, the saturation magnetization.