Microwave-accelerated rapid synthesis of high-quality yttrium iron garnet nano powders with improved magnetic properties

High-quality cubic yttrium iron garnet (YIG) nano powders have been rapidly synthesized by a chemical co-precipitation plus microwave heating method. The average particle size of the synthesized YIG nano powders were about 30 nm. The atoms in the particle were near completely orderly arranged by microwave activation, resulting in a higher saturation magnetization of 29.7 emu/g and a lower coercive field of 21 Oe compared with those of conventional heating treatment. This method provides a time-saving and easily controlled route for the synthesis of high-quality YIG nano materials in large-scale production. IMPACT STATEMENT We present a novel method to rapidly fabricate high-quality YIG nano powders with a small particle size and enhanced magnetic properties.