Influence of synthesis method on structural, microstructural, and magnetic properties of Bi0.5La0.5FeO3 ceramics.

(Bi_0.5La_0.5)FeO₃ Orthoferrite ceramics were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method on a bulk scale and on a nano range by sol–gel auto combustion and Hydrothermal methods, respectively. The phase purity and crystallinity of the prepared ceramics have been examined by X–ray diffraction study. Broadening of the maximum intensity peak (hkl) and smaller crystallite size has been noticed in both chemical methods i.e., sol–gel and hydrothermal. Rietveld refinement confirmed the presence of orthorhombic symmetry with a space group for the ceramics synthesized through all three processes. The crystallite size, particle morphology, and grain microstructure formation mechanism were correlated for prepared ceramics with FESEM and XRD results. The influence of synthesis conditions on structure, microstructure, and magnetic studies has been studied. The M-H hysteresis loop study reflects that tuning of particles or crystallite size might induce a productive enhancement in magnetization response for chemically synthesized ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]