Calcination temperature dependence on the structural and electrical properties of bismuth orthoferrite (BiFeO3) ceramics

We study the effect of the calcination temperature on the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of bismuth orthoferrite (BiFeO3) ceramics. The analyzed materials were synthesized via sol-gel and sintering methods. Structural (PSA and XRD) and morphological (SEM) analyses confirmed the hexagonal R3c-phase, polycrystalline nature, the decrease in crystallite size and grain size with increasing calcination temperature. The complex impedance spectra show the grain and grain boundary contributions to the electrical conduction mechanism. The electrical conductivity exhibited a thermal activation mechanism and the activation energy is in the 0.30 - 0.50 eV range that increase with increasing calcination temperature.