47. Study of Bismuth Ferrite-Silver Ferrite Nanocomposite About Structure, Characterization, Magnetic Properties and Band Gap Evaluation

Multiferroic materials are novel multifunctional materials which possess both ferroelectric and magnetic properties. These materials have a variety of applications from semiconductors to sensors. A novel nanocomposite is made of equimolar perovskite-rhombohedral bismuth ferrite-silver ferrite composite through chemical route by blending of nano-bismuth ferrite as the second phase in nanosilver ferrite and left for soaking for 1 and 4 h and then heated at 500 °C. The phases and planes are analyzed and the particle sizes are calculated by X-ray diffraction method and SEM studies indicate features of interconnected agglomeration with spherical in rhombohedral synthesized nanocomposite. The transmission electron microscopy images also correlate the experimental observations from XRD analysis and the band gap is calculated by UV-visible spectra. From Tauc relation, the band gaps are found as 2.84, 2.65 eV, respectively, for 1 and 4 h soaking periods. These values are close to the semiconducting material. It also indicates the increase of soaking time, the band gap is found to be decreased. The VSM analysis of the synthesized nanocomposite at 500 °C for 4 h is determined. M-H curve indicates nanocomposite closer to superparamagnetic nature. These properties are interesting characteristics suitable for photo, magnetic, optoelectronic and other electronic applications.