Synthesis of nanocrystalline YFeO3 and its magnetic properties

Single phase nanocrystalline YFeO3 has been synthesized by a simple solution method. The average particle diameter is 42.2 nm. The particles exhibit ferromagnetic behaviour in the temperature range 10-300 K with a coercivity of 23 kOe. The magnetization versus temperature over the temperature range 2-300 K obeys Bloch equation with a Bloch constant value 9.98 x 10(-6) K-3/2. Ferromagnetic hysteresis loops have been observed up to a temperature of 300 K. At 10 K a field-cooled sample shows an exchange bias field. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.