A Novel Synthetic Approach for the Preparation of Bulk Bi3Fe5O12 on the Y3Ga5O12 Core

Abstract

In this study the bismuth iron garnet (Bi3Fe5O12; BIG) nanocrystals were obtained using non-thermodynamical approach. The hydrothermal synthesis of BIG was performed on the yttrium gallium garnet (Y3Ga5O12; YGG) substrate. For the hydrothermal synthesis of Y3Ga5O12 core the Ga2O3 and Y(NO3)3·6H2O starting materials were used. The final precursor solution was transferred to teflon container which was put inside the hydrothermal bomb and heated at 180 °C for 20 h. For the preparation of BIG shell on the YGG core the obtained Y3Ga5O12 particles were dispersed in distilled water using ultrasound, and then the citric acid, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O were added under continuous stirring. Finally, the obtained solution was transferred to a teflon container which was put inside a hydrothermal bomb and heated at 180 °C for 20 h. The synthesis products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with STEM module, and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The obtained results clearly showed that the garnet Bi3Fe5O12 crystalline phase has formed.