Figure 7
From: Atomic scale insights on the growth of BiFeO3 nanoparticles
Schematic of the stages involved leading to the nucleation and growth of BiFeO3 particles due to calcination of precursor at different temperatures. (I) shows polydentate structure and (II) precursor gel dried at 573 K containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles of BiFeO3 and fine nanoparticles of Bi rich/Fe rich oxides as deduced based on Mossbauer results. Each of these particles are formed and stabilized due to bismuth iron tartarate polydentate based polymeric structures terminated by carbon–oxygen bonding network. (iii) Annealing around 700 K leads to a sharp increase in the nanocrystallites of BiFeO3 as the fine Bi/Fe rich bismuth iron oxide particles get dissociated and react leading to dominant formation of BiFeO3. (iv) Sample annealed beyond 700 K has fine particles of BiFeO3 exhibiting AFM core and weakly FM shell as shown in the schematic corresponding to V.
