Yttrium orthoferrite powder obtained by the mechanochemical synthesis

Abstract

Yttrium orthoferrite (YFeO3) powder was prepared by a mechanochemical synthesis from a mixture of Y2O3 and α–Fe2O3 powders in a planetary ball mill for 2.5 h. The obtained YFeO3 powder sample was characterized by X–ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The average crystallite size calculated by the Scherrer equation was 12 nm. The Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature confirms the superparamagnetic character of YFeO3 orthoferrite sample.