Preparation and characterization of pure single-phase BiFeO3 nanoparticles through thermal decomposition of the heteronuclear Bi[Fe(CN)6]·5H2O complex

The heteronuclear Bi[Fe(CN)6]·5H2O complex was synthesized and single-phase perovskite-type BiFeO3 nanoparticles with an average size of 30 nm were obtained by its decomposition at 600 °C. The complex and its decomposition products were analyzed using elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, BET specific surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic measurements. The magnetic measurement confirms that the product shows a ferromagnetic order at room temperature, which may be ascribed to the size confinement effect. The DTA and DSC results confirm the multiferroic nature of the BiFeO3 nanoparticles with Neel and Curie points at 372 and 825 °C, respectively. The BiFeO3 prepared by this method could be an appropriate visible-light photocatalytic material due to its strong absorption band in the visible region. This method is simple, low-cost, safe and also suitable for industrial production of high purity perovskite-type BiFeO3 nanoparticles for electromagnetic applications.

Graphical abstractThe heteronuclear Bi[Fe(CN)6]·5H2O complex was easily synthesized and its decomposition was investigated at various temperatures. Spectral and thermal data confirmed that pure and single-phase perovskite-type BiFeO3 nanoparticles with an average size of 30 nm were obtained by the decomposition of this complex at 600 °C.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide