Characterization of Nano-Structured Multiferroic Bismuth Ferrite Produced via Solid State Reaction Route

Abstract:

Multiferroic bismuth ferrite, BiFeO₃, was synthesized via conventional solid-state reaction method using Bi₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ as starting materials. Effects of Bi₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ molar ratio and calcination temperature on the phase composition, morphology and magnetic properties of produced powders were systematically studied using XRD, FESEM/EDS and VSM techniques, respectively. The results revealed that BiFeO₃ phase with rhombohedral R3c structure with a mean particle size of 40 nm was formed in the sample processed with a Bi₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ molar ratio of 1:1 after calcination at 800 °C. Rietveld analysis which was applied to the x-ray diffraction data via MAUD software indicated high purity of 95%wt for the above sample. Deviation from the stoichiometric molar ratio (Bi₂O₃/Fe₂O₃: 0.9, 1.1, 1.2) yielded higher content of the intermediate phases of Bi₂Fe₄O₉ and Bi₂₅FeO₄₀. FESEM studies showed that the mean particle size was increased from 40 to 62 nm by increasing calcination temperature from 800 to 850 °C. VSM results for 1:1 molar ratio samples indicated that increasing the calcination temperature from 800 to 850 °C increased saturation magnetization (M_s) from 0.087 to 0.116 emu/g and also coercive field (H_c) from 60 to 100 Oe.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 829)
• Pages: 683-687
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.829.683
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Ebrahim Mostafavi, Abolghasem Ataie*, Mostafa Ahmadzadeh
• Keywords: Bismuth Ferrite, Multiferroic, Nanoparticle, Solid-State Reaction

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