Synthesis of BiFeO 3 by Wet Chemical Methods

The synthesis of phase‐pure BiFeO 3 has been demonstrated by a chemical synthesis route as well as the solid‐state method at 825°C. Polymeric BiFeO 3 precursors were obtained from aqueous solutions of nitrate salts and carboxylic acids with and without ethylene glycol added as a polymerization agent. The polymeric precursors were shown to decompose above 200°C with successive nucleation and growth of BiFeO 3 above 400°C. The phase purity of the product was shown to depend on the type of carboxylic acid used, and tartaric, malic, and maleic acids resulted in nanocrystalline phase‐pure BiFeO 3 . The unit cell and Néel temperature of the bulk materials obtained by the two methods were in accord with previous reports.