Thermal instability and microstructure of strontium M-type hexaferrite nanoparticles synthesized by citrate approach

Abstract

The dried gel of SrFe12O19, prepared by citrate approach, was investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermograimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorinetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal instability and the thermal decomposition of low-temperature strontium M-type hexaferrite crystallized at about 600°C were confirmed for the first time by XRD method. The decomposition of the low-temperature strontium M-type hexaferrite took place at about 688.6°C determined by DSC investigation. The low-temperature strontium M-type hexaferrite nanoparticles were decomposed into SrFeO2.5 with an orthorthombic cell and Fe2O3 with a tetragonal cell as well as possible α-Fe2O3. The agglomerated particles with sizes less than 200 nm obtained at 800°C were plesiomorphous to strontium M-type hexaferrite. The thermally stable strontium M-type hexaferrite nanoparticles with size less than 100 nm could take place at 900°C. Up to 1000°C, the phase transformation to form strontium M-type hexaferrite was ended, the calcinations with the sizes more than 1 μm were composed of α-Fe2O3 and strontium M-type hexaferrite. The method of distinguishing γ-Fe2O3 with a spinel structure from Fe2O3 with tetragonal cells by using powder XRD method was proposed. Fe2O3 with tetragonal cells to be crystallized before the crystallization of thermally stable strontium M-type hexaferrite was confirmed for the first time. The reason why α-Fe2O3 as an additional phase appears in the calcinations is the cationic vacancy of strontium M-type hexaferrite,SrFel2-x▭xO19(0⩽x⩽0.5). 3