Kinetics and thermodynamics of intracrystalline Fe-Ga distribution in Y3(Fe,Ga)5O12

Garnets of composition Y₃Fe_5–xGa_xO₁₂, withx=0–5, were synthesized from oxides. Samples with various Ga content were annealed at temperatures between 700–1290° C; the heating duration varied between 90 s and 1350 h. Cation distribution was measured by Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature. The standard free energy change for the exchange reaction Fe³⁺ (tet)+ Ga³⁺ (oct)Fe³⁺ (oct)+Ga³⁺ (tet) is about 20 kJ mol^–1, and decreases slightly with increasing Fe content. The specific rate constants for the ordering process were determined according to the Mueller model for order-disorder kinetics. The activation energies for the ordering process between 200–250 kJ mol^–1 were calculated from the temperature dependence of the specific rate constants.