Synthesis of hollow spheres of BiFeO3 from nitrate solutions with tartaric acid: Morphology and magnetic properties

Single-phase powders of bismuth ferrite have been synthesized for the first time by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis from nitrate solution in the presence of tartaric acid. The produced powders consist of hollow spherical agglomerates with a mean diameter of -1 mu m. The influence of tartaric acid concentration on the synthesis temperature and morphology of hollow spheres was established. The agglomerate shells have open and closed pores. The mean values of the shell thickness and the ratios of closed and open pores were estimated and their dependence on the concentration of tartaric acid was found. It was shown that the magnetic properties are determined not only by the size of nanoparticles composing the agglomerates, but also by the morphology of hollow sphere shells. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.