Synthesis of Hexagonal YMnO3 Nanoparticles by Sol-Gel Route and their Characterization

Hexagonal yttrium manganese oxide (h-YMnO₃) nanoparticles were prepared by a modified citrate sol-gel process at a lower heating temperature (200°C-230°C) followed by grinding and calcination. The structure and morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles were studied using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron microscope (SEM). YMnO₃ nanoparticles with a uniform micro structure were observed in SEM images. The XRD analysis showed that the prepared precursor powder was well crystallized. The elemental compositional analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) confirmed the elemental base composition of pure yttrium, manganese, and oxygen.