Er3+-substituted W-type barium ferrite: preparation and electromagnetic properties

Er3+-substituted W-type barium ferrites Ba1-xErx(Zn0.3Co0.7)2Fe16O27(x=0.00,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20)were synthesized by polymer adsorbent combustion method.Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD),X-ray fluorescence(XRF),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and network analyzer to investigate the relationships among Er3+concentration,crystal structure,surface mcrphology and electromagnetic properties.All the XRD patterns showed pure phase of W-type barium ferrite when x≤0.15,while the impurity phase of ErFeO3 appeared when x=0.20.The pure W-type barium ferrite showed a hexagonal flake shape.In addition,the microwave electromagnetic properties of samples were analyzed in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz.It was indicated that the electromagnetic properties were significantly improved when Er3+doping content was 0.10.The reasons were also discussed using electromagnetic theory.The optimized ferrite exhibited excellent microwave absoption performance.The maximum of reflection loss(RL)reached about-27.4 dB and RL was below-10dB at the frequency range from 8.4 GHz to 18 GHz,when the thickness was 2.6 mm.