Polycrystalline Y3FesO~2 (YIG) and Y3AIsO~2 (YAG) garnets have been prepared by the organic solution technique using a novel organic precursor. The thermal decomposition of the precursor and subsequent formation of the garnet phases was studied by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) including diffuse reflectance FTIR (DRIFT). The precursor of YIG decomposes to give the garnet phase as the main component at 800 ~ YFeO 3 and Fe203 are also present, and react to give YIG at higher temperatures. Single-phase YAG can be obtained from its precursor at 11 O0 ~ The reaction proceeds via a hexagonal YAI03 intermediate which is formed at 850 ~

No abstract