Sonochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline rare earth orthoferrites using Fe(CO)₅ precursor

This paper describes, for the first time, a simple sonochemical method for the synthesis of nanoparticles of a series of rare earth orthoferrites. This sonochemical process is enabling synthesis of nanoparticles of the rare earth orthoferrites at a substantially lower calcination temperature by using simple precursors, iron pentacarbonyl and rare earth carbonates. It is particularly noteworthy that the cogeneration of the garnet phase has not been observed, as is usual with the conventional methods. The drastic reduction in the calcination temperature could be due to the ultrasonic generation of amorphous iron oxide from Fe(CO)5. Nanosized GdFeO₃, ErFeO₃, TbFeO₃, and EuFeO₃ were prepared by this method and their magnetic properties were also studied in detail.