Document Type : Reasearch Paper
Authors
1 Department of Chemistry, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Chemistry, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (RAH) Shahre Rey Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Keywords
Main Subjects
INTRODUCTION
By using various kinds of magnetoelectronic devices, electromagnetic radiation interference results in human health damage and disclosure of information. As the result, electromagnetic absorber materials (EMA) have been developed in recent years [1-3]. M-Type hexaferrites with high Curie temperature, high electrical resistivity, and large magnetocrystalline anisotropy are the perfect candidate to be used as EMA materials [4, 5]. Till now, single compounds like M-type hexaferrites can’t be prosperous in fulfilling all properties that ideal EMA (like maximum electromagnetic attenuation, and easy fabrication process) should have; however, composite materials act impressively [6]. On the other hand, for maximizing the attenuation of the electromagnetic wave, the electric and magnetic parts of absorber should be matched with each other [7]. Nanocomposites with two different phases of magnetic and dielectric materials can fulfill the goal of maximum attenuation and excellent impedance matching[8]. Hence, the new kinds of composites were synthesized by hexaferrites and the materials with large dielectric constant such as perovskite was added to maximize the attenuation of electromagnetic wave[9].
For obtaining beneficial electromagnetic absorber materials, a series of nanocomposites such as SrFe12O19/NiFe2O4 [10], Fe–Sr0.8La0.2Fe11.8Co0.2O19 [11], graphene/Strontium hexaferrite [12] and (Ni0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4)0.85-(BaFe12O19)0.15 [13], was synthesized. Consequently, electromagnetic properties of nanocomposites were enhanced in comparison to the pure nanoparticles.
In this paper, SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 (50/50, 40/60, 70/30 w/w) nanocomposites, for comparing microwave absorption properties have been synthesized via ball- milling method. First of all, SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 was prepared by sol-gel auto combustion method. Then BaTiO3 was fabricated by the sol-gel method. Finally, nanocomposites of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 (50/50, 40/60, 70/30 w/w) was provided by ball- milling process. All the samples were characterized by FTIR (fourier transform infrared), XRD (x-ray diffraction), FESEM (field emission electron microscopy) and VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer) analysis. The absorption properties of each sample were investigated by VNA (vector network analyzer).
METHODS AND MATERIALS
An analytical grade of Sr(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)3, Mg(NO3)2, SnCl4, Ba(NO3)2, Lucien, tetra-n-butyl titanate, citric acid, ammonium hydroxide, was used without further purification.
SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 synthesis
SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 was synthesized with sol-gel auto-combustion method. Sr(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)3, Mg(NO3)2, SnCl4 and citric acid was dissolved in 400mL deionized water. The solution was heated up to 100°C, and then by ammonia solution adding the pH was reached to 8. Gradually the sol was ignited and converted to a viscous gel. Finally, auto-combustion happened. The powder was calcined at 900°C for 5 hours [14].
BaTiO3 synthesis
0.25g barium nitrate and 0.3g Lucien was dissolved in distilled water. 0.5ml tetra-n-butyl titanate was added into the solution under vigorous stirring. The gel was obtained at 100°c and calcined at 700°c [15].
SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 nanocomposite synthesis
Stoichiometric amounts of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 and BaTiO3 was weighted and mortgaged. The certain weight ratio (50/50, 40/60, 70/30) of samples was a ball- milled for 36h. The samples were dried at the vacuumed oven.
Preparing samples for microwave absorption
Preparation of samples for electromagnetic absorption measurements was accomplished by mixing nanocomposites with paraffin (mass ratio70/30). The samples were molded in the rectangular template with 22.86×10.16×1mm diameter and 3mm thickness.
Characterization
(Model: XPERT-MPD, Philips) with Cu Kα radiation (λ=١.٥٤١٨Å) over the ٢Ѳ rang of ١٠-٨٠ ̊ with a step rate of ٥ ̊/min. Field emission scanning electron (SIGMA, VP-500, ZEISS model), was utilized for estimating morphology of samples. The magnetic properties of samples were characterized by Lake Shore7307 vibrating sample magnetometer. Microwave absorption in the range of X bands frequency was calculated with a vector network analyzer (VNA, Agilent 8510C).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
FTIR spectrums
The FTIR spectrum of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 and SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 (50/50, 40/60, 70/30 w/w) nanocomposites was shown at Fig. 1(a-d). FTIR spectrum, implying the preparation processes of FTIR. In pure SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 nanoparticles, show the peaks at 423.12 and 582. 48cm-1 was related to the vibration of the Fe-O bond at tetrahedral and octahedral vibrations (Fig.1a) [16]. In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 nanocomposite, besides hexaferrite vibrating modes (550, 549.62 and 547.39 cm-1), the new bands at 589.03, 590.01 and 592.0.5 cm-1 correspond to the vibration of Ti-O octahedron of perovskite structure (fig 1b, 1c, and 1d). [17].
XRD results
The XRD patterns of samples were presented at Fig. 2(a-d). XRD patterns reveal that the formation of Strontium hexaferrite which was matched with the JCPDS number 98-004-3590. The crystallite size of particles was calculated by Scherer’s equation (1):
(1)
In which λ is the X-ray wavelength, B is the full width at half maximum and θ is the diffraction angle. The average crystallite size of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 is about 89 nm. The peaks with Miller indices of (110), (107), (114), (108), (203), and (205) presented the formation of strontium hexagonal ferrite [18].
In X-ray patterns of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 (50/50, 40/60, 70/30 w/w) nanocomposites, the peaks which were related to the hexaferrite (cycles) and perovskites (stars) was appeared in Fig. 2b, 2c and 2d. This kind of X-ray patterns shows that the nanocomposites of hexaferrite/perovskites were synthesized successfully [19]. There were no impurities in XRD results which was represented by the formation of pure nanocomposites.
FESEM pictures
FESEM micrographs of samples were shown at Fig. 3 (a-d). Hexagonal platelet structure of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 reveals the formation of hexaferrite (Fig. 3a). In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 nanocomposites, the spherical particles of BaTiO3 and hexagonal structure of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 confirm the existence of nanocomposites (Fig. 3b, 3c, and 3d). In all products agglomeration of samples was happened due to magnetic properties of M-type hexagonal ferrites [20-23].
VSM hysteresis loops
Hysteresis loops of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 and SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 (50/50, 40/60, 70/30 w/w) nanocomposites was represented at Fig. 4 (a-d). Iron in the hexagonal structure occupied five different sites in tetrahedral 4f1 (↓), bipyramidal 2b (↑), and three octahedral sites (12 K (↑), 4f2 (↓), and2a (↑)) [24]. On the whole, 4+ cation is responsible for the magnetization properties of samples[25]. Sn4+ is substituted for Fe3+ in bipyramidal 2b and tetrahedral 4f1 sites. For more distortion, tin preferred to occupy bipyramidal 2b rather than 4f1 sites [26]. As a result, the saturation magnetization decreased in comparison to the pure strontium hexaferrite (56emu/g) [27]. In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 nanocomposites by adding BaTiO3, saturation magnetization reduced (39.81 to 28.83 emu/g) due to the non-magnetic properties of perovskites. In 60/40 and 70/30 nanocomposites because of the increasing of magnetic phase (hexaferrite), the saturation magnetization increased (35.34 and 36.14 emu/g) (Fig. 4b, 4c, and 4d). Magnetic data of all samples was observed at Table 1. The coercivity of doped strontium hexaferrite was decreased (5000Oe to 604.45Oe) due to the improvement of uniaxial anisotropy along the c axis. Based on equation (2):
(2)
In which coercivity is in reverse relation with saturation magnetization. In this equation K is magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant, MS is the saturation magnetization, m0 is the permeability of free space and Hc is coercivity. By decreasing saturation magnetization from 39.81 to 28.83 emu/g, the coercivity was increased from 604.45 to 1500 Oe. The sequence ratio (Mr/Ms) of all samples was calculated. The various ratio of Mr/Ms differed each sample in a different application.
Electromagnetic absorption properties
Microwave absorption properties of samples were investigated by reflection loss, and the reflection loss can be calculated by following equation based on transmission loss theory (3):
(3)
In these equations, Zin is the input impedance, μr is the permeability, εr is the permittivity, f is the microwave frequency, c is the light velocity, d is the thickness of absorbing layer and j is an imaginary number. The effective bandwidth describes the frequency with the reflection loss is less than -10 db [28]. In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 M-type hexaferrite, reflection loss is -4db at 8-12GHz range which reveals that the doped strontium hexaferrite shows the absorbance percentage of about 10% (Fig. 5). By adding perovskite, the reflection loss reaches to -16.4db at 11.5 GHz for SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 60/40 nanocomposite. In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 50/50 nanocomposite, the reflection loss reaches to -16db at 12 GHz. In SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 70/30 nanocomposite the reflection loss reaches to -14.8db at 10.5GHz. The reports reveal that coupling dielectric loss and magnetic loss mechanism can improve the electromagnetic wave attenuation and consequently increase the reflection loss. Therefore, by adding BaTiO3 to SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19, rather than magnetic loss, the dielectric loss mechanism will be occurred on the surface of the nanocomposite due to the interfacial polarization. As a result, the reflection loss increases from -4 to -16.4db at GHz in 3mm thickness.
CONCLUSIONS
The SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19/BaTiO3 nanocomposite was synthesized successfully. FTIR spectrums approve the formation of nanocomposites. XRD results show that both phases of hexaferrite and perovskite were synthesized completely. FESEM pictures represent the hexagonal structure of SrFe11.98Mg0.1Sn0.1O19 and sphere shape of BaTiO3. By adding perovskite phase, the saturation magnetization of nanocomposites was decreased due to the reduction of magnetic hexaferrite phase. For adjusting, dielectric and magnetic parts of the electromagnetic absorber, the perovskite with high dielectric properties were added to the hexaferrite. After this adjustment, the reflection loss of the sample was enhanced.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.
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