Material Science and Technology

Nanomaterials have a significant impact on our technological development and has been an intense study field due to the novel mesoscopic properties shown by particles of small dimensions. Two important families of materials in this scope are the bismuth sillenites and ferrites. BiFeO3 (BFO) has been extensively studied due to its multiferroic properties at room temperature [1]. Bismutates with sillenite structure have important technological applications [2]. Obtaining stoichiometric single­phased materials with a proper microstructure is a difficult task. In this work, BiFeO3 and Bi12MnO20 polycrystalline samples were synthesized using soft chemical routes. XRD and TEM experiments indicates either an as­cast amorphous state or a very small particle size distribution. EXAFS, PDF calculations and magnetic measurements suggest the presence of magnetic nanoparticles in the as­cast state. [1] Wang J et al., Science 299:1719 (2003). [2] S.L. Lee, et al.. Solid State Ionics, 176:393 (2005).