Structural Evolution and Physical Properties of Nano-Crystalline BiFeO₃

Abstract

The effect of temperature on the structural evolution and physical properties of nanocrystalline BiFeO3 compound has been studied systematically. The results show that the compound crystallizes in the hexagonal LiNbO3 type-structure (space group R3c) and the structural characterization was a=b=5.5979 Å, c=13.9163 Å and V=387.43 Å3. The average crystallite size was about 32.5 nm. The Neel temperature was the same in the vacuum and air conditions, but the decomposition temperature in the air condition was higher 190°C than that of the vacuum condition.