Magnetic effect on the phase properties of neodymium-activated yttrium disilicate nanomaterials

Abstract

Under varying temperature conditions, undoped Y$_{2}$Si$_{2}$O$_{7}$ and neodymium-doped Y$_{2}$Si$_{2}$O$_{7}$ nanopowders were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The phase transitions from $\alpha $ to $\delta $ were observed in neodymium nanopowders by XRD measurements. TEM images showed ball-shaped structure forms for synthesized samples. The elemental compositions of all samples were established and quite close stoichiometry to all compound formulas was found using an attached component for TEM. To reveal the Nd dopant effect in different-phased Y$_{2}$Si$_{2}$O$_{7}$ nanopowders, diffuse reflectance measurements were conducted. To establish the magnetic properties of undoped Y$_{2}$Si$_{2}$O$_{7}$ and neodymium-doped Y$_{2}$Si$_{2}$O$_{7}$ nanopowders, an extensive study was carried out including M-H, M$^{2}$-H/M (Arrott's plot), and M-T under varying physical conditions. In the $\alpha $ phase, a significant paramagnetic increase was observed and a decrease in paramagnetic behavior was monitored by the effects of Nd dopant and increased annealing temperature.