NANOSCALE COATING OF SILICON AND MANGANESE ON FERRIMAGNETIC YTTRIUM IRON GARNETS

A uniform microstructure of Gd-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Y2Gd1F e5O12) was obtained with additives of Si and Mn using a sol-gel coatin g process. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and manganese acetate were used as Si and Mn sources for the set-gel coating procedure, respectiv ely. TEM/EDS analysis confirmed the presence of a relatively uniform n anoscale coating of Si and Mn around each particle. High density and u niform microstructure were obtained after sintering at 1400 degrees C in O-2 atmosphere. The density and grain size of the specimens depende d on Mn content. The results were compared with materials fabricated w ithout additives incorporated by the sol-gel coating procedure.