Improvement of the Magnetization of Barium Hexaferrites Induced by Substitution of Nd3+ Ions for Fe3+ Ions

Barium hexagonal ferrites (BaNd x Fe12−x O 19) have been synthesized by initial high-energy milling of the precursors and calcining subsequently. The as-prepared samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD and SEM examinations reveal that a high-crystallized hexagonal BaNd x Fe12−x O 19 with lamellar morphology is obtained when the precursor is calcined at 1200∘C in air for 3 h. The hexagonal crystalline structure of BaFe12 O 19 is not changed after doping Nd3+ ions in BaFe12 O 19. However, lattice parameters a and b values increase with an increase in Nd content at first, then decrease. Nd substitution may improve the magnetic properties of BaNd x Fe12−x O 19. BaNd0.1Fe11.9 O 19, obtained at 1050∘C, has the highest specific saturation magnetization value (80.81 emu/g) and magnetic moment (16.21 μ B); BaNd0.2Fe11.8 O 19, obtained at 950∘C, has the highest coercivity value, 4075.19 Oe.