Production of Zinc-Doped Yttrium Ferrite Nanopowders by the Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

Zinc-doped yttrium orthoferrite nanocrystals having the perovskite structure were prepared by coprecipitation of yttrium, zinc, and iron hydroxides. The limiting zinc doping level of the yttrium ferrite to yield a ZnFe₂O₄ spinel second phase was determined. The yttrium orthoferrite particle size was found to be a nonmonotone function of dopant concentration. The specific magnetization of yttrium ferrite nanocrystals increases with increasing zinc doping level from 0.242 A m²/kg (in undoped YFeO₃) to 1.327 A m²/kg (the ratio (1–x)YFeO₃: xZn (x = 0.4)) at Т = 300 K in 1250-kA/m field. A zinc ferrite impurity in samples enhances the ferromagnetism of the material.