Yttrium doped strontium nano hexaferrites: Influence of yttrium on the structural and magnetic properties of sol-gel synthesized nanocrystalline strontium hexaferrite

Abstract Yttrium (Y3+)-substituted strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles with composition SrFe12-x Y x O19 have been synthesized using the sol-gel method. Diverse analytical tools have been applied to characterize the prepared strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles and to analyse the influence of yttrium (Y3+) substitution on the structural and magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the presence of single phase M-type hexagonal crystalline structure. In fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the absorption bands at low wavenumber confirmed the formation of hexagonal ferrites. The vibrating sample magnetometer has been employed to study the magnetic behavior of Y3+ ions substituted strontium hexaferrite. The decrease in saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc) value has been explained on the basis of alteration in magnetic interactions due to the replacement of both Fe3+ ions by the non-magnetic Y3+ ions.