Synthesis and ferroelectric properties of multiferroic BiFeO3 nanotube arrays -: art. no. 143102

We report the synthesis and characterization of ordered multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) nanotube arrays. BFO nanotubes with diameters of about 250 nm and lengths of about 6 mu m were fabricated by means of a sol-gel method utilizing nanochannel alumina templates. After postannealing at 700 degrees C, the BFO nanotubes exhibited a polycrystalline microstructure, and x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy study revealed that they are of a perovskite crystal structure. Significant ferroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics of BFO nanotubes have been demonstrated by means of piezoresponse force microscopy measurement. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.