The microstructure and magnetic properties of yttrium iron garnet film prepared using water-alcohol solvents

Abstract

This study reports on the preparation of yttrium iron garnet thin films using three different solvents via a sol-gel method, followed by a spin coating technique and an annealing process at 750 °C for 2 h in the air. The three different solvents were water-ethanol, water-methanol and water. The microstructure analysis using an X-ray diffractometer revealed that the films prepared using a water-alcohol solvent crystallized into YIG single phase at a low annealing temperature (750 °C). The film thicknesses are in the range of 200 nm to 400 nm. The film prepared using a water-ethanol solvent has the smallest crystallite size. All films are soft ferrimagnetic at room temperature and the film prepared using a water-ethanol solvent exhibits the highest saturation magnetization value (162 emu/cm3).