Phase segregation in La-doped YIG: Influence of temperature

Abstract Herein, we present a study about the calcination temperature effect on the structural and magnetic properties of the Y3Fe5-xLaxO12 compound. The refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the YIG single phase formation for sample calcined at 900°C, while for the samples sintered at 1000°C and 1100°C, it was verified the phase segregation belonging to the YFeO3 compound. The average crystalline size increases with the temperature, which may be related to the nucleation and growth mechanisms that are favored by temperature. The samples have an agglomerated morphology and an irregular elongated shape. The magnetic properties show variation in the magnetic moment of the compound as the phase formation temperature increases. At temperatures of 1000°C and 1100°C, the effects of the secondary phase are added to the magnetism of the compound, causing variations in the saturation magnetization and in the effective anisotropy field.