Yttrium orthoferrite powder obtained by the mechanochemical synthesis

Yttrium orthoferrite (YFeO3) powder was prepared by a mechanochemical synthesis from a mixture of Y2O3 and α-Fe2O3 powders in a planetary ball mill for 2.5 h. The obtained YFeO3 powder sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The average crystallite size calculated by the Scherrer equation was 12 nm. The Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature confirms the superparamagnetic character of YFeO3 orthoferrite sample. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 45003, Grant no. III 45015, Grant no. III 45018]