Abstract
A Low temperature preparation method named sol-gel technique was used to prepare Y3.0-xAlxFe5O12 nano-crystalline powders. The gel was prepared from nitrates of yttrium, aluminum and iron according to the Y3.0-xAlxFe5O12formula where x taken to be 0 and 3 to prepare Y3Fe5O12 and Al3Fe5O12 samples respectively. The raw materials were mixed and dissolved together in citrate acid until the formation of gel was achieved. The gel was calcined and crushed to obtain the fine particles garnet phase powders. The sample was then characterized by x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to confirm the garnet phase. Finally, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to study the surface morphology. The results showed that, the best garnet phase was located when the gel was sintered at 800oC for Y3Fe5O12 and Al3Fe5O12 samples; nano-crystalline powders with average particle size of 82.1 nm and 55.3 nm for Y3Fe5O12 and Al3Fe5O12 samples respectively were formed