Phase evolution of bismuth ferrites in the process of hydrothermal reaction

Abstract

Abstract Bismuth ferrite crystallites were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The phase evolution in the process of hydrothermal reactions was investigated for different conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicates that sillenite Bi 25 FeO 40 could be the intermediate products, while perovskite BiFeO 3 was the target crystallite. The phase evolution could be controlled by adjusting KOH concentration, reaction temperature and duration time et al. The dissolution of Fe(OH) 3 plays an important role to control the phase formation of bismuth ferrites. Bi 25 FeO 40 and BiFeO 3 crystallites have the cubic and sphere-like morphologies respectively. The formation of perovskite BiFeO 3 crystallites was based on the dissolution of sillenite Bi 25 FeO 40 .