Microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of Bi-substituted yttrium garnet nanoparticles

Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi–YIG, Bi1.8Y1.2Fe5O12) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave-assisted co-precipitation as well as conventional co-precipitation using ammonia aqueous solution as precipitant. The nanoparticles were characterized by thermal gravity-differential thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively. The Faraday rotation of Bi–YIG modified PMMA slices was also investigated. Results demonstrate that the Bi–YIG nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted co-precipitation show smaller particle size and higher Faraday rotation than those prepared by conventional co-precipitation.