BiFeO₃ doped-BNT-BT_0.08 piezoelectric and magnetic nanowires, derived from sol–gel precursor

Lead-free piezoelectric (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.92Ba_0.08TiO₃, doped with 5 mol %BiFeO₃ (BNT-BT-BFO) nanowires was prepared from its corresponding precursor sol. A polycarbonate membrane with the thickness of 30 μm and the pore diameter of 100 nm was used as template. Nanowires with average diameter of ~80 nm and different lengths of a few microns were prepared from BNT-BT-BFO precursor sol with ~0.03 M concentration. Ferroelectric and piezoelectric characterizations of BNT-BT-BFO nanowires were performed using AFM-PFM equipment. The HR-TEM micrograph of nanocrystals, SAED patterns, and XRD pattern indicated that BNT-BT-BFO nanowires crystallized on the lattice of rhombohedral (Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃) phase. The BNT-BT-BFO nanowires showed a significant piezoelectric response, suggesting a good piezoelectric behavior. The saturation magnetization of the nanowires, measured at room temperature and at 5 kOe magnetic field, was Ms = 0.061 emu/g. A saturated ferromagnetic hysteresis loop has been also obtained.