Synthesis of nano-structured bismuth ferrite by mechano-thermal route

In this study, multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) powders were synthesized via mechanical activation of Bi2O(3) 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 mu m. XRD results of calcined samples showed that the BFO phase began to form at 650 degrees C and fully formed at 750 degrees C. In comparison to the conventionally processed samples, BFO phase formation temperature decreases by similar to 100 degrees C in the samples produced by mechanical activation assisted process. VSM measurements of the sample heat treated at 750 degrees C revealed a saturation magnetization (M-s) of 0.054 emu/g and coercivity (H-c) of 412 Oe.