Leidenfrost Method for Synthesis of BiFeO3 and the Effect of Solvent Variation on its Optical Properties and Morphology

Abstract

Background: Nanotechnology has wide applications in various fields of life. To synthesis nanoparticles, many different methods have been used. Although these methods form nanoparticles with different morphologies and properties, it needs expensive tools, multi-steps, various chemicals and yields toxic by-products. The trend today is to use green synthesis with one step self assembly methods and eco-friendly one. Objective: In this manuscript, high pure BiFeO3 (BFO) multiferroic perovskite was prepared using the green chemical Leidenfrost technique as a cost-effective and eco-friendly method. Methods: Two different solvents (viz, water and ethylene glycol) were used for the synthesis of BiFeO3 nanoparticles. The resulting nanopowder was characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR and Uvisible spectrometric techniques. Results: The XRD results show that BiFeO3 was developed in a pure phase in the case of water solvent, whereas one peak of a Bi2O3 phase was observed in the case of ethylene glycol solvent. The crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer equation to be 36.58 and 61.02 nm for aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, respectively (viz, water and ethylene glycol). The optical band gap was determined using the Kubelka-Munk function, which appears a blue shift from 2.08 eV for ethylene glycol to 1.80 eV for aqueous solvent. Conclusion: Leidenfrost method proves its efficiency for the synthesis BFO nanoparticles with low cost and simple steps. The high dependence of the purity and optical properties on the solvent variation was perceived.