Synthesis of single phase bismuth ferrite compound by reliable one-step method

We report the synthesis of polycrystalline BiFeO3 compound by solid state route and its structural and magnetic properties were investigated. The structure confirmation and phase purity of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. No signature of thermodynamically probable impurity phases was observed in these samples. The Rietveld refined structural parameters of the XRD pattern revealed rhombohedral (R3c) structure. Scanning Electron Microscopy images show samples with larger grain size. The Raman active modes predicted by the group theory confirmed the rhombohedral symmetry. The study of the oxidation states of Bi, Fe and O through XPS analysis indicated that the sample quality is not deteriorated by vacancies or other defects formation. The absence of iron based impurity phases is confirmed by the antiferromagnetic nature of the sample obtained by magnetization measurements.