Synthesis of Nanostructured Bismuth Ferrite by Mechano-Thermal Route

Abstract:

In this study, multiferroic BiFeO₃ (BFO) powders were synthesized via mechanical activation of Bi₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ with the molar ratio of 1:1, using a planetary high energy ball mill and subsequent heat treatment. All samples were milled for 20 h and heat treated at various temperatures. XRD, FESEM, LPSA, and VSM techniques were used to evaluate the powder particle characteristics. FESEM images of 20 h milled sample indicated plate-like particles with a mean thickness of 45 nm and its LPSA results showed the mean agglomerate size of about 2.0 μm. XRD results of calcined samples showed that the BFO phase began to form at 650 °C and fully formed at 750 °C. In comparison to the conventionally processed samples, BFO phase formation temperature decreases by 100 °C in the samples produced by mechanical activation assisted process. VSM measurements of the sample heat treated at 750 °C revealed a saturation magnetization (M_s) of 0.054 emu/g and coercivity (H_c) of 412 Oe.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 829)
• Pages: 722-726
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.829.722
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Mostafa Ahmadzadeh, Abolghasem Ataie*, Ebrahim Mostafavi
• Keywords: BiFeO₃, Mechanical Activation, Multiferroic, Nanostructure

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