The influence of Eu cations on improving the magnetic properties and promoting the Ce solubility in the Eu, Ce-substituted garnet synthesized by the solid state route

Rare earth substituted yttrium iron garnets (Re:YIG) are an important class of magnetic ceramics which can be widely used in microwave-related, magnetic and magneto-optic devices. For this reason, this paper investigates the structural behavior and magnetic performance of the Eu, Ce-YIG garnet by the traditional ceramic technique. Oxide powders with stoichiometric ratios were blended to achieve the chemical composition (Y(2)(.7)(5-x)Ce(0.25)Eu(x)Fe(5)O(12 )where x = 0, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35). The mixed powder was calcined at 1000 degrees C for 20 h in the air condition, sintered at 1350 degrees C for 14 h and then the sample became denser at 1420 degrees C for 6 h in the air. The XRD results showed that the Eu3+ ion is effective in solubilizing the Ce3+ ion and that the lowest amount of required Eu to dissolve the 0.25 Ce is about 0.25 in the structure. The XPS data confirmed that the Fe2+ and Ce4+ cations are not present in the structure. Moreover, the substituted garnet with 0.25 Ce and 0.25 Eu increased saturation magnetization by about 21% compared to the pure YIG. The magnetic coercivity increases from 16.41 Oe for the pure YIG to 25.52 for the Y2.75Ce0.25Fe5O12 and then decreases with the Eu substitution.