Structural study of yttrium substituted BiFeO₃

Yttrium-substituted Bi_1-xY_xFeO₃ (x=0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.5) samples were prepared by solid state reaction technique. Morphological analysis was obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique indicating mainly granular behaviour. In addition, the substitution of yttrium promotes smaller particle size of BiFeO₃. The obtained samples were also studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystal structure and the lattice parameters were confirmed by XRD. Rietveld refinement of experimental X-ray diffraction patterns showed that substituted BiFeO₃ compounds crystallize in a R3c type structure and the lattice parameters decrease as Y concentration increases. (paper)