Nanophase formation of strontium hexaferrite fine powder by the sonochemical method using Fe(CO)5

A fine strontium hexaferrite powder has been successfully synthesized by a sonochemical method employing Fe(CO)5 and SrCO3. SrCO3 was first synthesized using strontium nitrate and urea, and it was found that applying ultrasound radiation during this process results in the uniform formation of SrCO3 hexagonal rods. These rods were then dispersed with in situ generated amorphous Fe2O3, using Fe(CO)5 as the source. The resultant precursor was then calcined at 900°C, which is lower than the conventional solid-state reaction of applying 1300°C to get the strontium hexaferrite fine powder. This sonochemically derived ferrite exhibited an intrinsic coercivity of ∼4600 Oe and a saturation magnetization of ∼60 emu/g at 20 K and ∼32 emu/g at 300 K.