The low-temperature synthesis of BiFeO3-SrBi2Nb2O9 complexes by sol-gel process

Nanocrystalline 0.1BiFeO3-0.9SrBi2Nb2O9 powder was successfully synthesized by a ethanolamine-modified sol-gel technique from compounds, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, Sr(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and Nb(OC2H5)5 in solution ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. The powder exhibited amorphous in structure below annealing temperature 400 °C and a pure phase of layered perovskite ferroelectric structure at annealing temperature 600 °C. There was a considerable degree of particle coalescence when the xerogel was heated at 400 °C. The grains exhibited spherical shape distribution, and the average particle size of powder was in the range 50-100 nm after annealing at 700 °C. The ceramics exhibited a dense fracture surface consisting of lamellar grains.