One-dimensional multiferroic bismuth ferrite fibers obtained by electrospinning techniques

Avinash Baji, Yiu Wing Mai, Qian Li, Shing Chung Wong, Yun Liu, Q. W. Yao

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the fabrication of novel multiferroic nanostructured bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) fibers using the sol-gel based electrospinning technique. Phase pure BiFeO3 fibers were prepared by thermally annealing the electrospun BiFeO3/polyvinylpyrrolidone composite fibers in air for 1h at 600 °C. The x-ray diffraction pattern of the fibers (BiFeO3) obtained showed that their crystalline structures were rhombohedral perovskite structures. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the BiFeO 3 fibers were composed of fine grained microstructures. The grains were self-assembled and self-organized to yield dense and continuous fibrous structures. The magnetic hysteresis loops of these nanostructured fibers displayed the expected ferromagnetic behavior, whereby a coercivity of ∼ 250Oe and a saturation magnetization of ∼ 1.34emug-1 were obtained. The ferroelectricity and ferroelectric domain structures of the fibers were confirmed using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The piezoelectric hysteresis loops and polar domain switching behavior of the fibers were examined. Such multiferroic fibers are significant for electroactive applications and nano-scale devices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number235702
JournalNanotechnology
Volume22
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jun 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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