Analysis of the structure and Mössbauer study of the neodymium substitution in the Sr-hexaferrite

Abstract This work reads on the obtainment of the strontium hexaferrite substituted with neodymium in its pure phase using the solid state reaction method. The solubility of neodymium on the strontium hexaferrite was investigated according with the formula Sr 1−x Nd x Fe 12 O 19 , for x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25. Results indicate that neodymium is soluble in the hexaferrite until x=0.15. In samples with higher neodymium content there are traces of secondary phases. Analysis of magnetic and structural properties was performed in function of the neodymium content, always in its solubility range. From the structural properties, it was observed that the addition of a little neodymium quantity in the Sr-hexaferrite causes an important reduction of the unit cell volume. Also, magnetic properties are strongly linked to the structural behavior, in this case a trend to reduce the magnetization of the samples was detected when neodymium content increased, which can be explained in terms of fluctuations of the superexchange coupling conducted by the neodymium interactions with the structure. Mossbauer analysis was carried out in order to analyze the effects of the neodymium substitution on the hyperfine parameters, as well as to confirm the preferential site of the neodymium substitution in the Sr-hexaferrite.