Influence of Ba/Fe mole ratios on magnetic properties, crystallite size and shifting of X-ray diffraction peaks of nanocrystalline BaFe₁₂O₁₉ powder, prepared by sol gel auto combustion

Barium hexaferrite BaFe12O19 (BFO) is of great importance as permanent magnets, particularly for magnetic recording as well as in microwave devices. Nano-crystalline BFO powders were prepared by sol gel auto combustion method in citric acid - metal nitrates system. Hence the mole ratios of Ba/Fe were variated at 1:12; 1:11.5 and 1:11. Ratio of cation to fuel was fixed at 1:1. An appropriate amount of amonia solution was added dropwise to this solution with constant stirring until the PH reached 7 in all cases. Heating at 850oC for 10 hours for each sample to get final formation of BFO nanocrystalline. The data from XRD showing the lattice parameters a,c and the unit-cell volume V, confirm that BFO with ratio 1:12 has same crystall parameters with ratio 1:11. Ratio of Ba/Fe 1:12 and 1:11 have diffraction pattern similarly at almost each 2 Θ for each samples. Ratio of Ba/Fe 1: 11.5 has the finest crystallite size 22 nm. Almost diffraction pattern peaks of Ba/Fe 1:11.5 move to the left from of Ba/Fe 1:12 then return to diffraction pattern of Ba/Fe 1:12 for Ba/Fe 1:11. SEM observations show the particle size less than 100 nm and the same shape for each sample. Ratio of Ba/Fe 1: 12 gives the highest intrinsic coercive Hc = 427.3 kA/m. The highest remanent magnetization is at ratio 1:11 with Mr = 0.170 T. BFO with mole ratio 1:11.5 has the finest grain 22 nm, good magnetic properties and the highest value of best FoM 89%.