Synthesis of garnet based films by sol-gel technique and investigation of their magneto-optic properties

The objective of this study is to fabricate YIG thin films produced via sol-gel technique on several substrates and characterize them structurally, magnetically and magneto-optically. In order to evaluate solution characteristics which affect thin film structure; turbidity, pH values, and rheological properties of the prepared solutions were measured by turbidimeter, pH meter and rheometer machines before coating process. In order to use suitable process regime and to define chemical structure and reaction type of intermediate temperature products, Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) and Fourier Transform Infrarared (FTIR) devices were used in the film production. Phase identification of the films was performed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and surface morphology was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy with an Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (IXRF System EDS) system attachment. Thickness measurements of the films were investigated through refractometer and spectrophotometer devices. Magnetic and magneto-optical properties were characterized using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and self design Magneto-optical experiment setup respectively. It was concluded that high purity YIG based thin films were successfully deposited on several substrates for magneto-optical applications