Synthesis of pure phase BiFeO3 powders by direct thermal decomposition of metal nitrates

Pure phase BiFeO3 powders were successfully synthesized by direct thermal decomposition of metal nitrates at 500 °C. The as-prepared BiFeO3 had a perovskite structure which was studied using X-ray diffraction. The porous structures were investigated through scanning electron microscopy. Morphology of BiFeO3 changed from micron-sized porous structures to nano-sized particles as NH3HCO3 was added. Furthermore, the mechanism of formation of BiFeO3 was also discussed through X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The optical absorption band gap of the micro-sized porous structure BiFeO3 is 1.8 eV.