Combined magnetic and structural characterization of hidrothermal bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanoparticles

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The crystal and magnetic structures of BiFeO3 have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction at ambient temperature. Microstructure was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative phase analysis by the Rietveld method was conducted and crystallite sizes of 27 nm were determined from the XRD line broadening. The magnetic structure of BiFeO3 is described by the G-type antiferromagnetic order with magnetic peak located at 4.6 Å and a noticeable magnetic contribution to a reflection located at 2.4 Å in the diffraction pattern. The values of the ordered magnetic moment of Fe ions μFe=3.8(1) μB, obtained at ambient conditions, are consistent with those determined earlier. The magnetic moments in the crystal plane z = const are arranged in parallel, changing the direction from [100] to [ 110 ] when moving from one to the other z = const plane. © 2018 Authors. Published by the International Institute for the Science of Sintering