Preparation and characterization of a new series of solid solutions of Bi1−xYxFeO3 (0 < x < 1) from the thermal decomposition of hexacyanoferrates doped with yttrium

Abstract

Solid solutions of Bi1−xYx[Fe(CN)6]·4H2O (0 < x < 1) complexes were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures were refined by Rietveld analysis using X-ray powder diffraction data. The complexes of the series crystallized in the orthorhombic system, space group Cmcm. The gradual decrease in cell volume indicates that the substitution of Bi3+ by Y3+ was appropriately materialized. The thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. A single phase of perovskite-type Bi1−xYxFeO3 powders was obtained by thermal decomposition of the complexes at about 600 °C. The obtained products were identified and characterized by energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The size and morphology of the complexes and their thermal decomposition products were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal analysis showed that the complexes were good intermediaries for the synthesis of high-purity mixed oxides with a uniform particle size of the order of nanometers. To evaluate the effect of doping with yttrium, electrical transport measurements were performed.