Nanosize effects on magnetic properties and peak shifting of X-ray diffraction pattern of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ produced by sol gel method

The formation of barium hexaferrite, BaFe₁₂O₁₉ single phase with nanosize crystalline is very important to get the best performance especially magnetic properties. The samples were prepared by sol gel method in citric acid-metal nitrates system. Hence the mole ratios of Ba²⁺/Fe³⁺ were varied at 1:12 and 1:11.5 with pH of 7 in all cases using ammonia solution. The solution was then heated at 80-90°C for 3 to 4 hours. Then it was kept on a pre- heated oven at 150oC. The samples were then heat treated at 450oC for 24 hours. Sintering process was done at 850°C and 1000°C for 10 hours. Crystallite size was calculated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) peaks using scherrer formula. To confirm the formation of a single phase, XRD analyses were done by comparing the sample patterns with standard pattern. The peak shifting of pattern could be seen from XRD pattern using rocking curves at extreme certain 2θ. It was used MPS Magnet-Physik EP3-Permagraph L to know magnetic characteristics. This method can produce BaFe12O19 nanosize powder, 22-34 nm for crystallite size and 55.59-78.58 nm for particle size. A little diference in nanosize affects the peak shifting of XRD pattern significantly but shows a little difference in magnetic properties especially for samples at 850°C and 1000°C with mole ratio of 1:12 respectively. The well crystalline powder is formed at mole ratio of 1:11.5 at 850°C since it has the finest particle (55.59 nm) and crystalline (21 nm), the highest remanent magnetization (0.161 T) and the lowest intrinsic coersive (275.8 kA/m). It is also fitting exactly to the standard diffraction pattern with the highest value of best Figure of Merit (FoM), 90%. XRD peak position of this sample is almost same with XRD peak position of another sample with sinter temperature 1000°C at same mole ratio.