Cerium doping and cerium aluminium co-doping effects on the sol-gel processing of Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG): Bulk and thin films

In the present study cerium substitution effects in the sol-gel derived yttrium iron garnet (Ce:Y₃Fe₅O₁₂, Ce:YIG) have been investigated. To avoid formation of CeO₂ as side phase the samples were prepared under different conditions. Synthesis of Ce:YIG in the reducing atmosphere, however, showed the formation of perovskite YFeO₃ as dominant phase. Mixed-metal cerium substituted yttrium aluminium iron garnets (Ce:Y₃Al_5-xFe_xO₁₂, Ce:YIAG) were synthesized in the form of bulk and coating. Single phase Y_2.925Ce_0.075Al_5-xFe_xO₁₂ (x = 1, 2, 3, and 4) were successfully synthesized using the same sol-gel processing route. The garnet thin films with composition of Y_2.925Ce_0.075Al₁Fe₄O₁₂ were fabricated on a quartz substrate by dip-coating technique. The phase purity and structural features of obtained powders and thin films were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The surface composition was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology of synthesis products was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).