Sol-gel auto-combustion synthesis of PbFe12O19 using maltose as a novel reductant

A new way of preparing lead hexaferrite (PbFe12O19) nanoplates and nanoparticles has been developed using the sol-gel auto-combustion route, without adding external surfactant. For the first time, maltose has been applied as reductant to form PbFe12O19. In this work, we have chosen lead nitrate and iron nitrate as starting reagents. The morphology, phase structure, composition and phase purity of PbFe12O19 can be controlled by adjusting the Pb/Fe and Pb : reductant ratios and also calcination temperature. When the molar ratio of Pb/Fe is 1 : 6 and calcination temperature is 900 degrees C, the product is pure and found to be PbFe12O19 nanoplates. The size and agglomeration of the nanoplates increase with decreasing maltose content. On decreasing the calcination temperature to 600 degrees C, nanoparticles with spherical morphology are obtained. The PbFe12O19 nanostructures are characterized using SEM, TEM, EDS and XRD. Products with a high coercive force of 5609 Oe are obtained when the Pb/maltose and Pb/Fe ratios are 1 : 26 and 1 : 6, respectively, and calcination temperature is 900 degrees C.