Molten-salt synthesis and characterization of Bi-substituted yttrium garnet nanoparticles

Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi-YIG, Bi1.8Y1.2Fe5O12) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by molten-salt method in NaCl–KCl flux at 650 °C. Subsequently, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometer tests were used to characterize the phase, morphology, size distribution and magnetic properties of the as-prepared Bi-YIG nanoparticles, respectively. Moreover, the transparence and Faraday rotation of the PMMA slices filled with Bi-YIG nanoparticles were investigated by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer and Faraday rotation meter, respectively.