Room temperature electrodeposition and characterization of bismuth ferric oxide (BFO) thin films from aqueous nitrate bath

Bismuth ferric oxide (BFO) thin films were prepared on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates using electrodeposition method from aqueous nitrate bath at room temperature. The various preparative parameters, such as bath composition, current density, deposition time, etc were optimized to get good quality BFO thin films. The structural, surface morphological, optical and dielectrical properties of the films were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical absorption and dielectric measurement techniques. The results show that electrodeposition method allows to synthesis BFO films. The films are free from pinholes and cracks. The magnitudes of dielectric constant and loss tangent showed inverse frequency dependence. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.