Preparation and investigation of magnetic properties of MnNiTi-substituted strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

A series of M-type strontium hexaferrite powders with substitution of Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ ions for Fe³⁺ ions according to the formula SrFe₉(Mn_0.5−xNi_xTi_0.5)₃O₁₉, where x ranges from 0 to 0.5 with a step of 0.1, has been prepared via the conventional ceramic method. In order to get nanoparticles, the obtained powders were milled in a high energy SPEX mill for 1 h. XRD investigations of the unmilled and milled powders show that the prepared samples are all single phase hexaferrite. Lattice parameters and mean crystallite sizes of the powders were determined from the XRD data and Scherrer’s formula. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to analyze their structures. Room temperature magnetizations and coercivities of the samples in a magnetic field of 15 kOe have been determined from the hysteresis loops. It was found that magnetizations of the milled samples were smaller than the magnetization of the unmilled samples. This decrease, based on core-shell model, has been attributed to the presence of a magnetically dead layer on the particles’ surface of the milled powders. In addition, the magnetizations of the milled samples decrease with the increase in x value. This decrease has been discussed according to site occupation of the substituted cations on the sublattices. The discussion also supports the increase of lattice parameters and the decrease of Curie temperature as x increases.     

The influence of Nd-Co substitution on the magnetic properties of non-stoichiometric strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

Non-stoichiometric Nd-Co substituted hexaferrites of composition Sr_1−xNd_xFe_12(1−x)Co_xO₁₉ (x=0-0.4) were prepared by the self-propagating combustion method and subsequent heat treatments. Structural characterization of samples showed that the M-type hexagonal structure can be maintained for substitutions x<0.4 without the segregation of secondary phases on samples calcined at 1100 °C. The crystallites sizes range between 50 and 70 nm. Mössbauer spectroscopy results indicate that the iron vacancies are not evenly distributed over the lattice and that Co/Fe substitution mainly takes place in site 4f2. Magnetic measurements reveal that values of saturation magnetization M_S increased from 72 to 76 Am²/kg (x=0-0.2), while coercivity H_c increased from 26.40 to 58.70 A/m (x=0-0.3). Nd-Co substitutions enhance magnetic properties in deficient iron Sr hexaferrites.     

The effect of strontium dissolution by milling in water on the magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite

The milling in or the simple contact with water of strontium hexaferrite powders produces a loss of stromtium ions which amounted to about 10% from the total amount present in ferrite when the stoichiometric compound was wet milled for 10 h. The magnetic moment of these powders decreased by as much as 10% compared to the similarly milled samples in alcohol whose chemical composition was not effected by the milling medium. The Curie temperature of the Sr deficient samples was also lower than that of the stoichiometric ones. The experimental results are discussed in terms of the modications of the superexchange interaction between the octahedral iron on the 4f and 12k sublattices, brougth about by the possible loss of oxygen atoms from the 12K sites which leave the lattice together with the Sr ions in orfer to compensate for the electric charge.     

Tuning of magnetic properties of aluminium-doped strontium hexaferrite powders

M-type Al-doped strontium ferrite powders(Sr Alx Fe_(2n-x) O_(19), n = 5.9) with nominal Al content of x = 0–2.0 are prepared by traditional ceramic technology. The phase identification of the powders, performed using x-ray diffraction,shows the presence of purity hexaferrite structure and absence of any secondary phase. The lattice parameters decrease with increasing x. The average grain size of the powders is about 300 nm–400 nm at Al~(3+)ion content x = 0–2.0. The roomtemperature hysteresis loops of the powders, measured by using vibrating sample magnetometer, show that the specific saturation magnetization(σ_s) value continuously decreases while the coercivity(Hc) value increases with increasing x, and Hc reaches to 9759 Oe(1 Oe = 79.5775 A/m) at x = 2.0. According to the law of approach saturation, Hc value increases with increasing Al~(3+)ion content, which is attributed to the saturation magnetization(Ms) decreasing more rapidly than the magnetic anisotropy constant(K_1) obtained by numerical fitting of the hysteresis loops. The distribution of Al~(3+)ions in the hexaferrite structure of Sr Alx Fe_(2n-x) O_(19) is investigated by using 57 Co Mssbauer spectroscopy. The effect of Al~(3+)doping on static magnetic properties contributes to the improvement of magnetic anisotropy field.     

Structural and electromagnetic characteristics of substituted strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

Substituted strontium ferrite SrFe₉(Mn_0.5Co_0.5Zr)_3/2O₁₉ has been prepared from sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vector network analyzer, were used to analyze the structure and dynamic magnetic properties. Powders of sample show a hexagonal fine platelet structure and narrow particle size distribution. Based on microwave measurement on reflectivity, SrFe₉(Mn_0.5Co_0.5Zr)_3/2O₁₉ may be a good candidate for electromagnetic compatibility and other practical applications at high frequency.     

Effect of pH value on the structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline strontium hexaferrite thin films

Strontium hexaferrite SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thin films have been synthesized at different pH, adjusted by NH₄OH, on the Si (1 0 0) substrate using a spin coating sol-gel process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations were conducted for determination and controlling metal citrates in solution precursors. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer were applied to evaluate the composition, microstructure, crystallite size and magnetic properties of the SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thin films. Using the solution with pH 7, the approximately single phase strontium hexaferrite thin films with optimum physical properties can be obtained at calcination temperature of 800 °C. The SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thin films derived from the solution with pH 7 after calcination at 800 °C exhibited crystallite size of 42 nm and magnetic properties of M_s=267 emu/cm³ (at 10 kOe), M_r=134 emu/cm³ and H_c=4290 Oe.     

Influence of rare-earth ions on the structure and magnetic properties of barium W-type hexaferrite

Barium W-type hexaferrite with composition Ba_0.95R_0.05Mg_0.5Zn_0.5CoFe₁₆O₂₇ where R=Y, Er, Ho, Sm, Nd, Gd, and Ce ions has been prepared by the double-sintering ceramic technique. Structure of the prepared samples has been characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The XRD patterns at room temperature show the presence of secondary phase with the intensity of the secondary phase increasing with increasing ionic radius of the rare earth (RE) ions. The variation of the magnetic susceptibility (χ_M) with temperature in the range 300–750 K at different magnetic field intensities (1280, 1733 and 2160 Oe) was studied by using Faraday's method. The results show that the Curie temperature (T_C) increases regularly with increasing RE ionic radius then decreases again, after which it reaches maximum value at Sm ion of radius ≈1.04 Å. This behavior was explained on the basis of the changes in Fe³⁺–O–Fe³⁺ superexchange interaction. The effective magnetic moment μ_eff. of the investigated samples was discussed in view of varying the RE element as well as the magnetization of different sublattices.     

Synthesis of coprecipitated strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol

Strontium hexaferrite (SrFe₁₂O₁₉) nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method and using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a protective agent. The synthesized samples were characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, sedimentation test and vibrating sample magnetometer. In the presence of PVA, the single-phase SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles were obtained at low temperature of 650 °C. The average particle size of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ precursor was 15 nm, which increased to 61 nm after calcination at 650 °C. The magnetic measurements indicated that PVA decreased coercivity from 4711 to 3216 Oe with particle size reduction. The results showed that PVA as a protective agent could be effective in decreasing the particle size, calcination temperature and coercivity of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles.     

Radiation effect on optical,morphological and magnetic properties of aluminum-substituted M phase barium hexaferrite

The effect of gamma irradiation on the features of aluminum-substituted barium hexagonal ferrite particles BaAl_xFe_12?xO₁₉ with 0?≤?x?≤?3.5 has been studied. Optical absorption measurements have been performed and the results reflected a great dependence of the fundamental absorption edge on the radiation dose. It is found that the calculated optical band gap (E_g) increases due to an increase in the homogeneity with an increase in the Al content. Increasing the radiation dose up to 1?MGy induces a direct transition and consequently decreases the energy gap. This behavior is associated with the generation of excess electronic localized states. Moreover, the characteristic features of the irradiated samples have been studied using a scanning electron microscope. Also, all samples were characterized using the X-ray diffraction technique, and the values of crystal size, microstrain and dislocation density were calculated. On the other hand, the magnetic behavior of the samples was studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer technique after each radiation dose. The saturation magnetization (M_s) and the magneton number (n_B) decrease with an increase in the Al³⁺ substitution and at the same time decrease with the radiation dose 250?kGy to 1?MGy.     

Magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

The magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite (SrFe₁₂O₁₉) films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on the Si(100) substrate with Pt(111) underlayer have been studied as a function of film thickness (50–700 nm). X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that the films have c-axis perpendicular orientation. The coercivities in perpendicular direction are higher than those for in-plane direction which indicates the films have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The coercivity was found to decrease with increasing of thickness, due to the increasing of the grain size and relaxation in lattice strain. The 200 nm thick film exhibits hexagonal shape grains of 150 nm and optimum magnetic properties of M_s=298 emu/cm³ and H_c=2540 Oe.     

Particle size effect on phase and magnetic properties of polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles are hi-tech materials with ample applications in the field of biomedicine for the treatment of cancer and targeted drug delivery. In this study, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of FeCl₂ solution with sodium borohydride and coated with amine-terminated polyethylene glycol (aPEG). By varying the concentration of the reactants, the particle size and the crystallinity of the particles were varied. The particle size was found to increase from 6 to 20 nm and the structure becomes amorphous-like with increase in the molar concentration of the reactant. The magnetization at 1 T field (M_1T) for all samples is > 45 emu/g while the coercivity is in the range of 100-350 Oe. When the ethanol-suspended particles are subjected to an alternating magnetic field of 4 Oe at 500 kHz, the temperature is increased to a maximum normalized temperature (3.8 °C/mg) with decreasing particle size.     

On the crystal structure and magnetic properties of MnNiGe

MnNiGe has been studied by X-ray and neutron diffraction to elucidate its structural and magnetic properties. The structure at room temperature is of the orthorhombic TiNiSi type, but transforms on heating above 528 K to the hexagonal ordered Ni₂In type. Below 356 K a spiral magnetic structure with propagation vector τ = 0.228 × 2πa^* is found. At 260 K an abrupt change in the intensity of the satellite reflections with no change in the propagation vector is attributed to the formation of a double spiral structure. Discrepancies between these findings and the results of previous measurements are attributed to differences in sample preparation.     

Physical and magnetic properties of highly aluminum doped strontium ferrite nanoparticles prepared by auto-combustion route

Highly Al³⁺ ion doped nanocrystalline SrFe_12−xAl_xO₁₉ (0≤x≤12), were prepared by the auto-combustion method and heat treated in air at 1100 °C for 12 h. The phase identification of the powders performed using x-ray diffraction show presence of high-purity hexaferrite phase and absence of any secondary phases. With Al³⁺ doping, the lattice parameters decrease due to smaller Al³⁺ ion replacing Fe³⁺ ions. Morphological analysis performed using transmission electron microscope show growth of needle shaped ferrites with high aspect ratio at Al³⁺ ion content exceeding x≥2. Al³⁺ substitution modifies saturation magnetization (M_S) and coercivity (H_C). The room temperature M_S values continuously reduced while H_C value increased to a maximum value of 18,100 Oe at x=4, which is an unprecedented increase (∼321%) in the coercivity as compared to pure Sr-Ferrite. However, at higher Al³⁺ content x>4, a decline in magnetization and coercivity has been observed. The magnetic results indicate that the best results for applications of this ferrite will be obtained with an iron deficiency in the stoichiometric formulation.     

Magnetic properties and heating effect in bacterial magnetic nanoparticles

A suspension of bacterial magnetosomes was investigated with respect to structural and magnetic properties and hyperthermic measurements. The mean particle diameter of about 35 nm was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray and magnetic analysis. The X-ray powder diffraction peaks of magnetosomes fit very well with standard Fe₃O₄ reflections. The found value for specific absorption rate (SAR) of 171 W/g at 5 kA/m and 750 kHz means that magnetosomes may be considered as good materials for the biomedical applications in hyperthermia treatments. Moreover, they have biocompatible phospholipid membrane.     

Effect of some additions on the sinterability and magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite

The effect of additions on the densification of previously prepared stoichiometric barium hexaferrite, during the initial and intermediate stages of sintering, as well as on the coercivity and remanence were studied. The effect of non-stoichiometry, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, TiO₂, SnO₂, MnO₂, MgO, NiO and Bi₂O₃ is included.While SiO₂ and Bi₂O₃ form liquid phases that increase the density, Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃ and MnO₂ form a limited solid solution and are generally beneficial when added in the proper amounts. At 1300 SiO₂ up to 0.55% and Al₂O₃ up to 1% gave better magnetic properties. On the other hand addition of TiO₂, MgO, NiO or SnO₂ has a deleterious effect.     

Doping effect of Mn on the magnetic behavior in Ni-Zn ferrite nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel auto-combustion

The ferrite samples of a chemical formula Ni_0.5−xMn_xZn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method. The synthesized samples were annealed at 600 °C for 4 h. An analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns reveals the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter increases linearly with increase in Mn content x. An initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease in saturation magnetization with increase in Mn content is observed showing inverse trend of coercivity (H_c). Curie temperature decreases with increase in Mn content x. The initial permeability is observed to increase with increase in Mn content up to x=0.3 followed by a decrease, the maximum value being 362. Possible explanation for the observed structural, magnetic, and changes of permeability behavior with various Mn content are discussed.     

Influences of La3+ substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of M-type strontium ferrites

M-type strontium ferrites with substitution of Sr²⁺ by rare-earth La³⁺, according to the formula Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉, are prepared by the ceramic process. Influences of the substituted amount of La³⁺ on structure and magnetic properties of Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉ compounds have systematically been investigated by XRD, VSM and Mössbauer spectrum. When the substituted amount x is below 0.30, X-ray diffraction shows that the samples are single M-type hexagonal ferrites. It is found that the suitable amount of La³⁺ substitution may remarkably increase saturation magnetization σ_s and intrinsic coercivity H_cJ. With the La³⁺ addition for the same sintering temperature, σ_s and H_cJ increase at first, then decrease gradually. However, the substituted amount x at the maximum value of H_cJ is bigger than that of σ_s. Mössbauer spectroscopy of ⁵⁷Fe in Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉ has shown that the substitution of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ is associated with a valence change of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ at 2a or 4f₂ site. The magnetic properties are reflected in the Mössbauer spectra which indicate that the magnetic hyperfine field (H_hf) is detected with the highest value at x=0.20. The different exchange paths between the iron sublattices are discussed according to the increased hyperfine fields of the 12k- and 2b-site. The Curie temperature of Sr_1−xLa_xFe₁₂O₁₉ decreases linearly with increasing La³⁺ substitution.