Preparation of high quality,single domain BaFe12O19 particles by the citrate sol–gel combustion route with an initial Fe/Ba molar ratio of 4

BaFe₁₂O₁₉ particles have been synthesized by citrate sol–gel combustion route in a wide temperature range between 800 and 1200 °C with initial Fe/Ba molar ratios between 12 and 2. Structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the powders have been investigated by XRD, FT-IR, SEM and magnetization measurements. It was observed that both coercivity and specific saturation magnetization increase with annealing at temperatures up to 1100 °C, where a transition from single to multi domain structure occurs. To prevent formation of the hematite phase (α-Fe₂O₃), samples with different Fe/Ba molar ratios between 12 and 2 have been prepared and an intermediate phase, BaFe₂O₄, which may occur in Ba-rich samples has been removed by etching the powders in diluted hydrochloric acid. In this way, it was shown that single domain barium hexaferrite particles having high saturation magnetization, close to the theoretical value, and high coercivity can be synthesized with the initial Fe/Ba molar ratio of 4 in the sol–gel method. The chemical composition of this sample was determined as BaFe_11.80O_19.45 by the EDS analysis and Ba_1.05Fe_11.54O_18.4 using an ICP-MS device. Both are very close to the theoretical formula.     

Preparation and magnetization of hematite nanocrystals with amorphous iron oxide layers by hydrothermal conditions

Hematite nanocrystals modified with surface layers of amorphous hydrous iron oxides were prepared by hydrothermal conditions in the absence of alkali. The formation temperature was found to be ca. 130°C. When the temperature was lower than 130°C, no product was formed, while above this temperature, the amount of amorphous hydrous iron oxides at the surface of hematite nanocrystals was drastically decreased. The amorphous layers on the hematite nanocrystals obtained at 130°C were determined to be Fe₂O₃·1.64H₂O. The coercivity for the hematite nanocrystals with modified layers was 0.534 kOe, which is slightly larger than the values for hematite nanocrystals with few agglomerations.     

Microstructure and magnetism in barium strontium titanate (BSTO)-barium hexaferrite (BaM) multilayers

High quality multilayers of barium ferrite (BaM) and barium strontium titanate (BSTO) were grown in optimized conditions on thermally oxidized Si(1 0 0) and Al₂O₃ substrates using magnetron sputtering. As-grown films were amorphous and different annealing procedures were explored to stabilize crystalline phases. BSTO and BaM phases were identified using X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional scanning electron micrographs showed sharp interfaces between BSTO and BaM layers. Magnetic hysteresis loops obtained at various temperatures and field orientations showed a large coercivity (∼2500 Oe) consistent with the hard magnetic hexaferrite component. Hysteresis loops also revealed the distinct influence of magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropies at different temperature ranges.     

Structural and dielectric properties of A(Fe1/2Ta1/2)O3 [A = Ba, Sr, Ca]

The complex perovskite oxide barium iron tantalate (BFT), BaFe_1/2Ta_1/2O₃, strontium iron tantalate (SFT), SrFe_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ and calcium iron tantalate (CFT), CaFe_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ are synthesized by a solid-state reaction technique. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data of the samples shows that BFT and SFT crystallize in cubic structure, with lattice parameter a = 4.06 Å for BFT and 3.959 Å for SFT, whereas CFT crystallizes in orthorhombic structure having lattice parameters a = 5.443 Å, b = 5.542 Å and c = 7.757 Å. Fourier transform infrared spectra show two primary phonon modes of the samples at around 450 cm⁻¹ and 620 cm⁻¹. The compounds show significant frequency dispersion in its dielectric properties. The complex impedance plane plots of the samples show that the relaxation (conduction) mechanism in these materials is purely a bulk effect arising from the semiconductive grains. The relaxation mechanism of the samples is modelled by Cole-Cole equation. The frequency dependent conductivity spectra are found to follow the power law.     

Synthesis of BaFe12O19 Powder by Modified Coprecipitation and Spray Pyrolysis Methods

Fine barium hexaferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) powder consisting of platelike particles with the magnetoplumbite structure, 30–60 nm in size, is synthesized at 550°C via rapid oxidation of a suspension of barium and iron(II) hydroxides with NaClO. The magnetic properties of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ powders prepared by modified coprecipitation and spray pyrolysis processes are described. The coercivity of fine BaFe₁₂O₁₉ powders is shown to be lower than that of bulk material, which is due to the presence of a magnetically inactive layer of noncollinear spins in the basal plane of the hexagonal particles. BaFe₁₂O₁₉ particles less than 10 nm in size are shown to be in a superparamagnetic state.     

Synthesis, photoluminescence and magnetic properties of barium vanadate nanoflowers

The flower-shaped barium vanadate has been obtained by the composite hydroxide mediated (CHM) method from V₂O₅ and BaCl₂ at 200 °C for 13 h. XRD and XPS spectrum of the as-synthesized sample indicate it is hexagonal Ba₃V₂O₈ with small amount of Ba₃VO_4.8 coexistence. Scan electron microscope and transmission electron microscope display that the flower-shaped crystals are composed of nanosheets with thickness of ∼20 nm. The UV-visible spectrum shows that the barium vanadate sample has two optical gaps (3.85 eV and 3.12 eV). Photoluminescence spectrum of the barium vanadate flowers exhibits a visible light emission centered at 492 and 525 nm which might be attributed to VO₄ tetrahedron with T_d symmetry in Ba₃V₂O₈. The ferromagnetic behavior of the barium vanadate nanoflowers has been found with saturation magnetization of about 83.50 × 10⁻³ emu/g, coercivity of 18.89 Oe and remnant magnetization of 4.63 × 10⁻³ emu/g, which is mainly due to the presence of a non-orthovanadate phase with spin S = 1/2.     

Factors affecting CO oxidation over nanosized Fe2O3

Nanocrystallite iron oxide powders with different crystallite sizes were prepared by co-precipitation route. The prepared powders with crystallite size 75, 100 and 150 nm together with commercial iron oxide (250 nm) were tested for the catalytic oxidation of CO to CO₂. The influence of different factors as crystallite size, catalytic temperature and weight of catalyst on the rate of catalytic reaction was investigated using advanced quadrupole mass gas analyzer system. It can be reported that the rate of conversion of CO to CO₂ increased by increasing catalytic temperature and decreasing crystallite size of the prepared powders. The experimental results show that nanocrystallite iron oxide powders with crystallite size 75 nm can be recommended as a promising catalyst for CO oxidation at 500 °C where 98% of CO is converted to CO₂. The mechanism of the catalytic oxidation reaction was investigated by comparing the CO catalytic oxidation data in the absence and presence of oxygen. The reaction which was found to be first order with respect to CO is probably proceeded by adsorption mechanism where the reactants are adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst with breaking OO bonds, then CO pick up the dissociated O atom forming CO₂.     

Barium hexaferrite nanoparticles: Synthesis and magnetic properties

Carbon combustion synthesis is applied to rapid and energy efficient fabrication of crystalline barium hexaferrite nanoparticles with the average particle size of 50-100 nm. In this method, the exothermic oxidation of carbon nanoparticles with an average size of 5 nm with a surface area of 80 m²/g generates a self-propagating thermal wave with maximum temperatures of up to 1000 °C. The thermal front rapidly propagates through the mixture of solid reactants converting it to the hexagonal barium ferrite. Carbon is not incorporated in the product and is emitted from the reaction zone as a gaseous CO₂. The activation energy for carbon combustion synthesis of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ was estimated to be 98 kJ/mol. A complete conversion to hexagonal barium ferrite is obtained for carbon concentration exceeding 11 wt.%. The magnetic properties H_c∼3000 Oe and M_s∼50.3 emu/g of the compact sintered ferrites compare well with those produced by other synthesis methods.     

Synthesis and characterization of Bi2Fe4O9 powders

Bi₂Fe₄O₉ have been successfully prepared using ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) acid as a chelating agent and ethylene glycol as an esterification agent. Heating of a mixed solution of EDTA, ethylene glycol, and nitrates of iron and bismuth at 140 °C produced a transparent polymeric resin without any precipitation, which after pyrolysis at 250 °C was converted to a powder precursor for Bi₂Fe₄O₉. The precursors were heated at 400–800 °C in air to obtain Bi₂Fe₄O₉ powder and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques were used to characterize the precursors and the derived oxide powders. XRD analysis showed that well-crystallized and single-phase Bi₂Fe₄O₉ with orthorhombic symmetry was obtained at 700 °C for 2 h and BiFeO₃ and Fe₂O₃/FeCO₃ were intermediate phases before the formation of Bi₂Fe₄O₉. Bi₂Fe₄O₉ powders show weak ferromagnetism at room temperature.     

Physicochemical properties of solid-solid interactions in nanosized NiO-substituted Fe2O3/TiO2 system at 1200 °C

The solid-solid interactions between nanosized pure and NiO-substituted ferric and titanium(IV) oxides have been investigated using XRD technique and microstructure studies, also magnetic properties were studied using vibrating samples magnetometer (VSM). The amounts of substituting Ni²⁺ were x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 mole. A mixture equimolar proportions of finely powdered Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ were mixed with NiO, ball milled, compressed at 250 kg/cm² and fired at 1200 °C for 4 h.The obtained results showed that with substituting Ni²⁺ concentration x = 0 only Fe₂TiO₅ phase is present (∼80 nm) which showed a very small saturation magnetic flux density (B_s), remnant magnetic flux density (B_r) and the maximum energy product (BH)_max. By the addition of x = 0.2 NiO, new phases were observed NiTiO₃ and NiFe₂O₄ of crystallite sizes 160 and 110 nm, respectively. By the increase of substituting Ni²⁺ concentration the NiTiO₃ and NiFe₂O₄ phases increased on the expense of Fe₂TiO₅ up to x = 0.4, then the increase in substituting Ni²⁺ concentration led to a decrease in Fe₂TiO₅ and NiTiO₃ while NiFe₂O₄ increases which results in a great improvement of magnetic properties.All samples exhibit a catalytic activity towards H₂O₂ decomposition and the values of rate constant increase with increasing amount of Ni²⁺ substituting. The most acidic active sites are shown by specimens substituted with x = 0 this concludes that H₂O₂ decomposition is not favored on acidic active sites.     

Synthesis of nanocrystalline iron oxide ultrathin films by thermal decomposition of iron nitropruside: Structural and optical properties

Ultrathin films of nanocrystalline α-Fe₂O₃ have been deposited on glass substrates from an inorganic precursor, iron nitropruside. This is a novel route of synthesis for iron oxide thin films on glass substrates, by annealing the precursor thin film in air at 650 °C for 15 min. The films were characterized using TG-DTA analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible, FESEM, AFM and Raman measurements. X-ray diffraction and Raman analyses revealed that the deposited films contain α-phase of Fe₂O₃ (hematite). The synthetic route described here provides a very simple and cost-effective method to deposit α-Fe₂O₃ thin films on glass substrates with band gap energy of about 2.75 eV. The deposited films were found to show catalytic effect for the photo-degradation of phenol.     

Magnetic properties and microstructure of La-substituted BaCr-ferrite powders

A combustion process was used to synthesize crystalline powders of La-substituted barium chromium hexaferrites Ba_1 − xLa_xFe_11.5Cr_0.5O₁₉ (x = 0-0.25). The structures, morphologies and ferromagnetic properties of La³⁺ substituted nanocomposites were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD results showed that single-phase barium chromium ferrite powders was found at La content x ≤ 0.2. From the SEM, it was observed that the particles calcined at 1100 °C had a plate-like hexagonal shape. The results of magnetic mensuration revealed that both M_S and H_C of barium hexaferrite increased up to x = 0.1, and then decreased with the increasing of La content.     

Microstructural and electrical changes in nickel manganite powder induced by mechanical activation

Nickel manganite powder synthesized by calcination of a stoichiometric mixture of manganese and nickel oxide was additionally mechanically activated in a high energy planetary ball mill for 5-60 min in order to obtain a pure NiMn₂O₄ phase. The as-prepared powders were uniaxially pressed into disc shape pellets and then sintered for 60 min at 1200 °C. Changes in the particle morphology induced by mechanical activation were monitored using scanning electron microscopy, while changes in powder structural characteristics were followed using X-ray powder diffraction. The ac impedance spectroscopy was performed on sintered nickel manganite samples at 25 °C, 50 °C and 80 °C. It was shown that mechanical activation intensifies transport processes causing a decrease in the average crystallites size, while longer activation times can lead to the formation of aggregates, defects and increase of lattice microstrains. The observed changes in microstructures were correlated with measured electrical properties in order to define optimal processing conditions.     

A simple synthesis route for high quality BaFe12O19 magnets

The present investigation reports the detailed analysis of the influence of B₂O₃-doping on magnetic and structural properties of hexagonal barium ferrites (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) synthesized via conventional ceramic technique. The results show that crystalline structure of barium ferrite is improved with small amounts of B₂O₃ between 0.1 and 1.0 wt%. Single phase particles has been obtained by 1.0 wt% B₂O₃-doping with calcination at temperatures as low as 850 °C and a range of boron concentration and calcination temperature has been extended in order to find the best synthesis conditions. Optimal properties have been achieved by 0.2 wt% of B₂O₃-doping and calcination at 1000 °C. The remanence and the saturation magnetizations increase considerably by about 40% in magnitude with B₂O₃.     

Structural and magnetic properties of a mechanochemically activated Ti-Fe2O3 solid mixture

The mechanochemical effects on the reactivity and properties of a titanium/hematite powder mixture with molar ratio of 1/2 are investigated. Crystalline-phase structure, composition, hyperfine and magnetic behaviors were analyzed as a function of activation time by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results showed that at relatively short activation times metallic Ti reduces part of the ferric ions, yielding a complex product formed mainly by a mix of two solid solutions Fe_3−xTi_xO₄ (titanomagnetites), both with very different x values (0 < x < 1). Also metallic iron and superparamagnetic hematite particles were detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy. As the mechanical treatment extends the composition of the reactive mixture changes, prevailing in the end the solid solution with higher x value. In contrast, when these activated samples are thermally treated the fraction of the solid solution which is richer in Ti diminishes. This fact produces a significant variation of the saturation magnetization of the obtained material.     

Could binary mixture of Nd-Ni ions control the electrical behavior of strontium-barium M-type hexaferrite nanoparticles?

Cationic substitution in M-type hexaferrites is considered to be an important tool for modification of their electrical properties. This work is part of our comprehensive study on the synthesis and characterization of Nd-Ni doped strontium-barium hexaferrite nanomaterials of nominal composition Sr_0.5Ba_0.5−xNd_xFe_12−yNi_yO₁₉ (x = 0.00-0.10; y = 0.00-1.00). Doping with this binary mixture modulates the physical and electrical properties of strontium-barium hexaferrite nanoparticles. Structural and electrical properties of the co-precipitated ferrites are investigated using state-of-the-art techniques. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis reveal that the lattice parameters and cell volume are inversely related to the dopant content. Temperature dependent DC-electrical resistivity measurements infer that resistivity of strontium-barium hexaferrites decreases from 1.8 × 10¹⁰ to 2.0 × 10⁸ Ω cm whereas the drift mobility, dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent are directly related to the Nd-Ni content. The results of the study demonstrate a relationship between the modulation of electrical properties of substituted ferrites and nature of cations and their lattice site occupancy.     

A novel approach for synthesis of M-type hexaferrites nanopowders via the co-precipitation method

M-type hexaferrites; barium hexaferrite BaFe₁₂O₁₉ and strontium hexaferrite SrFe₁₂O₁₉ powders have been successfully prepared via the co-precipitation method using 5 M sodium carbonate solution as alkali. Effects of the molar ratio and the annealing temperature on the crystal structure, crystallite size, microstructure and the magnetic properties of the produced powders were systematically studied. The results indicated that a single phase of barium hexaferrite was obtained at Fe³⁺/Ba²⁺ molar ratio 12 annealed at 800–1,200 °C for 2 h whereas the orthorhombic barium iron oxide BaFe₂O₄ phase was formed as a impurity phase with barium M-type ferrite at Fe³⁺/Ba²⁺ molar ratio 8. On the other hand, a single phase of strontium hexaferrite was produced with the Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio to 12 at the different annealing temperatures from 800 to 1,200 °C for 2 h whereas the orthorhombic strontium iron oxide Sr₄Fe₆O₁₃ phase was formed as a secondary phase with SrFe₁₂O₁₉ phase at Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio of 9.23. The crystallite sizes of the produced nanopowders were increased with increasing the annealing temperature and the molar ratios. The microstructure of the produced single phase M-type ferrites powders displayed as a hexagonal-platelet like structure. A saturation magnetization (53.8 emu/g) was achieved for the pure barium hexaferrite phase formed at low temperature 800 °C for 2 h. On the other hand, a higher saturation magnetization value (M _s = 85.4 emu/g) was obtained for the strontium hexaferrite powders from the precipitated precursors synthesized at Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio 12 and thermally treated at 1,000 °C for 2 h.     

Synthesis of BaTi4O9 ceramics by reaction-sintering process

Synthesis of BaTi₄O₉ ceramics by a reaction-sintering process was investigated. The mixture of raw materials for stoichiometric BaTi₄O₉ were pressed and sintered into ceramics without any calcination stage involved. Pure BaTi₄O₉ phases were obtained at 1150-1280 °C. High-sintered density, 98.2-99.5% of theoretical value (4.533 g/cm³), can be obtained for pellets sintered at 1200-1280 °C for 2-6 h. Some rod-shaped grains 3-7 μm in the longitudinal axis appear in pellets sintered at 1230 °C. Both the size and the amount of these rod-shaped grains increase at higher sintering temperature.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-Axis Barium Hexaferrite Puck for Communication Application

Recent progress and needs by telecommunication industries require thick barium ferrite film with excellent magnetic properties for microwave monolithic integrated circuit applications. In the present work we show a novel barium hexaferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉, or BaM) composite material, BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanopowder mixture with epoxy, as a low-cost solution to fabricate thick BaM films. The mix is used to fabricate thick puck of BaM within an alumina substrate. The resulting barium hexaferrite thick pucks have good magnetic properties with a magnetization saturation 4πMs between 2000 and 2500 Gauss, a perpendicular coercivity of 3800 to 4000 Oe and a close to 0.9 squareness. In addition, we have successfully fabricated and tested a self-biased microwave circulator by depositing and patterning copper contact lines on the alumina substrate and the BaM thick puck.     

Infrared and microwave absorbing properties of BaTiO3/polyaniline and BaFe12O19/polyaniline composites

BaTiO₃/polyaniline and BaFe₁₂O₁₉/polyaniline composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization and introduced into epoxy resin and polyethylene to be microwave and infrared absorber. The spectroscopic characterizations of the formation processes of BaTiO₃/polyaniline and BaFe₁₂O₁₉/polyaniline composites were examined using Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron spin resonance. Microwave absorbing properties were investigated by measuring reflection loss in the 2–18 and 18–40 GHz microwave frequency range using the free space method. The thermal extinction measurements in the 3–5 and 8–12 μm were done to evaluate the shielding affectivity of infrared. The results showed that the BaTiO₃/polyaniline and BaFe₁₂O₁₉/polyaniline composites have good compatible dielectric and magnetic properties and hence the microwave absorbency show broad frequencies absorbing properties. Moreover, the infrared thermal image testing that the detecting ability of infrared thermal imaging was decreased when the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ and BaTiO₃ was coating with polyaniline.