Effects of In-substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of multi-doped YIG ferrites with low saturation magnetizations

Multi-doped YIG ferrites {Y_1.7Gd_0.5Ca_0.8}[Fe_2−xIn_x](Fe_2.15V_0.4Mn_0.05Al_0.4)O₁₂ (x=0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9) with low saturation magnetizations (4πM_s=400-600 G at 298 K) were prepared by a conventional ceramic technology and the effects of In³⁺-substitution on their structures and magnetic properties were systematically investigated using XRD, SEM and VSM. It has been found that as-synthesized powders and sintered ferrites showed a single-phase of garnet structure with a cell parameter (a) that increased linearly with increase in In³⁺ concentration from x=0 up to 0.9. Apparent relative densities of sintered samples were all over 98%, but no remarkable influences of In³⁺-substitution were observed by SEM on the refinement of crystal grains and the enhancement of sintering of ferrites. In addition, the Curie temperature T_c decreased almost linearly as In³⁺concentration increased, while the corresponding saturation magnetization at room temperature presented a variation characterized by a gradual increase first and then a rapid plunge. On the basis of quantitative analysis of XRD data and the theory on super-exchange interactions, it has been established that the incorporated In³⁺ ions via doping were exclusively located at the sites with octahedral coordinations in the crystal structure and the aforementioned magnetic properties can be simply attributed to weakening super-exchange interactions between neighboring magnetic ions through oxygen ions due to the “dilution effect” of added non-magnetic In³⁺ ions.