Preparation and properties of yttrium iron garnet microcrystal in P2O5-MgO glass

The fabrication of phosphorus-based glasses containing Y3Fe5O12 crystals by the incorporation method was studied. From transmission electron microscopy observation, there is only one rod-like crystalline phase identified as Y3Fe5O12 existing in the glass matrix. When the content of YIG is 30 wt.%, the as-cast sample shows a Faraday rotation of 85°/cm and a magnetization of 0.4 emu/g in a field of 14 kOe. After heat treatment, the magnetic and optical properties of the glass ceramic changed owing to the thermal diffusion of iron ions into the glass matrix.