Synthesis of nanosized BiFeO3 powders by co-precipitation method

A soft chemical co-precipitation method is proposed for the synthesis of nanosized multiferroic BiFeO 3 (BFO) powders. Pure phase (BFO) powder was obtained by controlling the chemical co-precipitation process, pH level and calcination temperature. The evolutions of phase constitution and structural characteristics showed that the BFO powders had R3c crystal structure under optimised conditions. Crystallite sizes deduced from X-ray diffraction line width analysis were found to be within 27-31 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that strong band corresponds to the Fe-O stretching and O-Fe-O bending vibrations. Dielectric and leakage behaviours were also measured at room temperature.