Synthesis and characterization of highly ordered BiFeO3 multiferroic nanowire arrays

We report the synthesis and characterization of multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) nanowires. The perovskite BFO nanowires with diameters about 60 nm and lengths about 10 mu m were fabricated by means of the sol-gel method utilizing nanochannel alumina templates with post annealing at 700 degrees C. The microstructure of the BFO nanowires was investigated by means of x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the ferroelectric characteristic of BFO nanowires were demonstrated. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.