Effects of two surfactants on properties of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid

Aim. To our knowledge, there is no paper in the open literature dealing with the effects of surfactants on the properties of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid. We now present our experimental results on the effects of two surfactants on the properties of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid. According to our past research experience, sol-gel method using citric acid is the best low-cost way of preparing BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles and, out of a number of surfactants, we have found CTAB (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) and Triton X-100 to be the better ones. In the full paper, we present our experimental results in detail; in this abstract, we just add some pertinent remarks to listing the two topics of presentation; (l)experiments and (2)experimental results and their discussion; under topic 1, we point out that single-phase BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticle samples were prepared by heating at 500°C for 5 h and then at 900°C for 6 h; the four subtopics of topic 2 are FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) analysis (subtopic 2.1), XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis (subtopic 2.2), FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope) analysis (subtopic 2.3) and VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer) analysis (subtopic 2.4); in subtopic 2.2, we point out that calculated average particle diameter was respectively 57.8 nm for no surfactant, 55.2 nm for CTAB surfactant and 40.6 nm for Triton X-100 surfactant; in subtopic 2.3, we point out that the range of particle diameter was respectively 60-100 nm for no surfactant, 60-80 nm for CTAB surfactant and 40-70 nm for Triton X-100 surfactant; in subtopic 2.4, we point out that Ms (saturation magnetization) was respectively 60.64 Am²/kg for no surfactant, 63.00 Am²/kg for CTAB and 67.80 Am²/kg for Triton X-100; also in subtopic 2.4, we point out that Mr (magnetic remanence) was respectively 36.42 Am²/kg for no surfactant, 37.67 Am²/kg for CTAB and 41.21 Am²/kg for Triton X-100; still in subtopic 2.4, we point out that Hc (coercivity) was respectively 412.91 kA/m for no surfactant, 430.10 kA/m for CTAB and 454. 55 kA/m for Triton X-100. In short, Triton X-100 surfactant is better than CTAB surfactant; its addition makes the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method using citric acid attain the following desirable results: particle diameter range 40-70 nm, Ms=67.80 Am²/kg, Mr=41.21 Am²/kg and Hc=454.55 kA/m.