On the Structure of α-BiFeO3

Polycrystalline and monocrystalline alpha-BiFeO3 crystals have been synthesized by solid state reaction and flux growth method, respectively. X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction techniques are used to study the crystallographic and magnetic structure of alpha-BiFeO3. The present data show that alpha-BiFeO3 crystallizes in space group PI with a = 0.563 17(1) nm, b = 0.563 84(1) nm, c = 0.563 70(1) nm, alpha = 59.33(1)degrees, beta = 59.35(1)degrees, gamma = 59.38(1)degrees, and the magnetic structure of alpha-BiFeO3 can be described by space group PI with magnetic modulation vector in reciprocal space q = 0.0045a* - 0.0045b*, which is the magnetic structure model proposed by I. Sosnowska(1) applied to the new PI crystal symmetry of alpha-BiFeO3