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

Pure phase BiFeO 3 powders were successfully synthesized by direct thermal decomposition of metal nitrates at 500   °C. The as-prepared BiFeO 3 had a perovskite structure which was studied using X-ray diffraction. The porous structures were investigated through scanning electron microscopy. Morphology of BiFeO 3 changed from micron-sized porous structures to nano-sized particles as NH 3 HCO 3 was added. Furthermore, the mechanism of formation of BiFeO 3 was also discussed through X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry . The optical absorption band gap of the micro-sized porous structure BiFeO 3 is 1.8   eV.