Comparative Study of Structural and Optical Properties of Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Applications Synthesized via Different Sol-Gel Methods

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 01 | Page :
    By

    Md. Meganur Rhaman,

  • Md. Samiul Islam,

  1. Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  2. Researchh Assistant, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Pure multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using an energy-efficient, low-temperature sol-gel method, comparing two distinct approaches: auto-combustion and non-auto-combustion. To ensure phase stability, the precursor solution’s pH was strictly maintained between 1 and 2 using ammonia solution (NH4OH), while ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) was employed as a chelating agent for the Fe3+ and Bi3+ cations. All samples underwent a final annealing process at 500 °C to promote crystallization. This study systematically investigates the influence of these synthesis routes on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the resulting nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that both methods successfully produced single-phase BiFeO3 with a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure (R3c), although the non-auto-combustion method demonstrated superior phase purity with minimal secondary phases. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed significant differences in morphology; the non-auto-combustion route yielded significantly smaller particles with an average size of 23.7 nm, whereas the auto-combustion method resulted in 40.9 nm particles due to heat-induced grain coalescence. This size reduction was accompanied by an increase in lattice micro strain, reaching 0.537% for the non-auto-combustion sample. Optical characterization via UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and Tauc plots identified a direct band gap for all samples. Notably, the non-auto-combustion method achieved a lower band gap of 1.92 eV compared to 1.95 eV for the auto-combustion method. Elemental analysis through Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) further supported the superiority of the non-auto-combustion approach, showing higher iron and bismuth atomic percentages, which are beneficial for electronic conductivity and ferroelectric order. Consequently, this study concludes that the non-auto-combustion sol-gel method is a more effective pathway for producing high-quality BiFeO3 nanoparticles optimized for next-generation photovoltaic applications.

Keywords: Multiferroic Materials, Nanoparticles, Photovoltaic, Sol-gel Method, X-Ray Diffraction

[This article belongs to Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering ]

How to cite this article:
Md. Meganur Rhaman, Md. Samiul Islam. Comparative Study of Structural and Optical Properties of Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Applications Synthesized via Different Sol-Gel Methods. Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering. 2026; 16(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Md. Meganur Rhaman, Md. Samiul Islam. Comparative Study of Structural and Optical Properties of Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Applications Synthesized via Different Sol-Gel Methods. Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering. 2026; 16(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jomme/article=2026/view=240744


References

  1. Rhaman MM. Hybrid renewable energy system for sustainable future of Bangladesh. International journal of renewable energy research. 2013 Oct;3(4):777-80.
  2. Tanvir RU, Shahadat MR, Ghosh M, Khan M. Prospects and utilization of renewable energy in Bangladesh: A review article. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research. 2017 Apr;8(4):490-1.
  3. Rhaman MM. A Remarkable Cost-Effective Solar Home System in Rural Area of Bangladesh. Current Alternative Energy. 2018;2(1):37-41.
  4. Roy S, Rhaman MM. Hybrid Solar Power Plant in Saint Martin’s Island can Enlarge Tourist Attraction in Bangladesh. IJ Engineering and Manufacturing. 2016 May 1;3:12-22.
  5. Rhaman MM, Islam S. On-Grid Renewable Energy System Design and Cost Analysis with HOMER Software for AUST. Computer (Desktop). 2017;700(100):70.
  6. Pradhan AK, Mohanty MK, Kar SK. The techno–economic and environmental assessments of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Bhubaneswar, India. International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering. 2014;8(11):1. Available from: https://waset.org/abstracts/9872
  7. Rhaman MM. Solar Base Renewable Energy for the Sustainable Future of Bangladesh. InProc. 4th Global Engineering, Science and Technology Conf (pp. 27-28).
  8. Rhaman M, Toshon TA. Solar powered rickshaw (SPR) can diminish the physical labor of rickshaw puller and improve the power crisis in Bangladesh. Int J Eng Manuf. 2014 Dec 1;4:26-35.
  9. Rhaman MM. Recent Advances of Light Emitting Diode for Solid State Lighting. InProceedings of 10th Global Engineering, Science and Technology Conference 2015 Jan 2 (pp. 2-3). BIAM Foundation.
  10. Miah MA, Kabir R. Energy Savings Forecast for Solid-State Lighting in Residential and Commercial Buildings in Bangladesh. In2023 IEEE PES 15th Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC) 2023 Dec 6 (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
  11. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Toshon TA. Solid State Lighting can resolve the present power crisis in Bangladesh. In2015 3rd International Conference on Green Energy and Technology (ICGET) 2015 Sep 11 (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
  12. Pastuszak J, Węgierek P. Photovoltaic cell generations and current research directions for their development. Materials. 2022 Aug 12;15(16):5542.
  13. Rhaman MM, Matin MA. Organic Solar Cells: Historical developments and challenges. In2015 International Conference on Advances in Electrical Engineering (ICAEE) 2015 Dec 17 (pp. 26-29). IEEE.
  14. Mazumdar SC, Datta S, Alam F. Structural, magnetic and transport properties of Gd and Cu co-doped BiFeO₃ multiferroics. J Appl Math Phys. 2022;10(6):2026–203.
  15. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Dielectric, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties of samarium doped multiferroic bismuth ferrite. Materials Research Express. 2019 Dec 1;6(12):125080.
  16. Hill NA. Why are there so few magnetic ferroelectrics?. The journal of physical chemistry B. 2000 Jul 27;104(29):6694-709.
  17. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hossain MN, Khan MN, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Ferromagnetic, electric, and ferroelectric properties of samarium and cobalt co-doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids. 2020 Dec 1;147:109607.
  18. Rao CN, Serrao CR. New routes to multiferroics. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 2007;17(47):4931-8.
  19. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Al Mamun MA, Hussain A, Hossain MN, Das BC, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Enhanced electrical conductivity and multiferroic property of cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. 2020 Jun;31(11):8727-36.
  20. Prasad SR, Sreenivasulu G, Roopas Kiran S, Balasubramanian M, Murty BS. Electrical and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline BiFeO3 prepared by high energy ball milling and microwave sintering. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2011 May 1;11(5):4097-102.
  21. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hossain MN, Mozahid FA, Hakim MA, Rizvi MH, Islam MF. Bandgap Tuning of Sm and Co Co-doped BFO Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Application: Rhaman, Matin, Hossain, Mozahid, Hakim, Rizvi, and Islam. Journal of Electronic Materials. 2018 Dec;47(12):6954-8.
  22. Selbach SM, Tybell T, Einarsrud MA, Grande T. Size-dependent properties of multiferroic BiFeO3 Chemistry of materials. 2007 Dec 25;19(26):6478-84.
  23. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hossain MN, Mozahid FA, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Bandgap engineering of cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles for photovoltaic applications. Bulletin of Materials Science. 2019 Aug;42(4):190.
  24. Sakar M, Balakumar S, Saravanan P, Jaisankar SN. Annealing temperature mediated physical properties of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanostructures synthesized by a novel wet chemical method. Materials Research Bulletin. 2013 Aug 1;48(8):2878-85.
  25. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Bandgap tuning of samarium and cobalt co-doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. Materials Science and Engineering: B. 2021 Jan 1;263:114842.
  26. Valant M, Axelsson AK, Alford N. Peculiarities of a solid-state synthesis of multiferroic polycrystalline BiFeO3. Chemistry of Materials. 2007 Oct 30;19(22):5431-6.
  27. Matin MA, Rhaman MM, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Bi(1-y)SmyFeO3 as prospective photovoltaic materials: MA MATIN et al. Bulletin of Materials Science. 2020 Dec;43(1):167.
  28. Kim JK, Kim SS, Kim WJ. Sol–gel synthesis and properties of multiferroic BiFeO3. Materials Letters. 2005 Dec 1;59(29-30):4006-9.
  29. Niloy NR, Chowdhury MI, Anowar S, Islam J, Rhaman MM. Structural and optical characterization of multiferroic BiFeO₃ nanoparticles synthesized at different annealing temperatures. J Nano- Electron Phys. 2020;12(5):05015. doi:10.21272/jnep.12(5).05015
  30. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Optical and electrical properties of impurity-less multiferroic bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. Materials Science and Engineering: B. 2022 Jan 1;275:115501.
  31. Hossain MN, Matin MA, Islam MM, Rhaman MM, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Aspects of Structural and Multiferroic Properties of A-(15% Gd) and B-Site (5–15% Cr) Doped Perovskite BiFeO3 Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials. 2021 Aug;22(4):543-9.
  32. Hossain MN, Matin MA, Rhaman MM, Ali MA, Hakim MA, Roy SK. Structural and Dielectric Progression of 5% Gd Doped BiFeO3 Nanoparticles Through Cr (2-8%) Doping. Journal of Engineering Science. 2021;12(3):101-10.
  33. Mohsin TB, Islam SA, Tonni TT, Rhaman MM. Analysis of conductivity and band-gap energy of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles as prospective photovoltaic material. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2023 Feb 8.
  34. Hedge MS, Aruna ST, Rattan T, Patil KC. Chemistry of nanocrystalline oxide materials: combustion synthesis, properties and applications. World scientific; 2008 Sep 8.
  35. Rhaman MM, Miah MS, Ahmad T. Investigation of magnetic and electric properties of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles at different temperatures. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects. 2024 Sep 1;39:101304.
  36. Matin MA, Rhaman MM, Hossain MN, Mozahid FA, Hakim MA, Rizvi MH, Islam MF. Effect of preparation routes on the crystal purity and properties of BiFeO3 Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials. 2019 Dec;20(6):485-93.
  37. Jaiswal A, Das R, Vivekanand K, Mary Abraham P, Adyanthaya S, Poddar P. Effect of reduced particle size on the magnetic properties of chemically synthesized BiFeO3 The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2010 Feb 11;114(5):2108-15.
  38. Rojas-George G, Silva J, Castañeda R, Lardizábal D, Graeve OA, Fuentes L, Reyes-Rojas A. Modifications in the rhombohedral degree of distortion and magnetic properties of Ba-doped BiFeO3 as a function of synthesis methodology. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2014 Jul 15;146(1-2):73-81.
  39. Rhaman MM, Rahman N, Akther S, Islam MA, Hasan SK. Optical and Structural Property Analysis of Samarium and Cobalt Co-doped Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles. In2024 6th International Conference on Sustainable Technologies for Industry 5.0 (STI) 2024 Dec 14 (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
  40. Efaz ET, Rhaman MM, Imam SA, Bashar KL, Kabir F, Mourtaza ME, Sakib SN, Mozahid AF. A review of primary technologies of thin-film solar cells. Engineering Research Express. 2021 Sep 1;3(3):032001.
  41. Ihlefeld JF, Podraza NJ, Liu ZK, Rai RC, Xu X, Heeg T, Chen YB, Li J, Collins RW, Musfeldt JL, Pan XQ. Optical band gap of BiFeO3 grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. Applied Physics Letters. 2008 Apr 7;92(14).
  42. Jindata W, Musikajaroen S, Wongpratat U, Jaisuk C, Wongprasod S, Tanapongpisit N, Laohana P, Sripallawit N, Thiwatwaranikul T, Muenwacha T, Khajonrit J. Enhanced energy density of LiNi5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 batteries with negative-electronic-compressibility thin film coating. Applied Physics Letters. 2024 Jul 22;125(4).
  43. Machado P, Cano I, Menéndez C, Cazorla C, Tan H, Fina I, Campoy-Quiles M, Escudero C, Tallarida M, Coll M. Enhancement of phase stability and optoelectronic performance of BiFeO3 thin films via cation co-substitution. Journal of Materials Chemistry C. 2021;9(1):330-9.
  44. Islam MZ, Hasan M, Rahman MF, Rhaman MM. DFT-based insights into Ca, Mg, and Cr-doped BaNpO₃ perovskites for advanced optoelectronic applications. Next Materials. 2025 Jul 1;8:100538.
  45. Zemene S, Yohannes YB, Wubetu GA. Synthesis and characterization of undoped and Co-doped Bismuth Ferrite nanoparticles for photovoltaic applications. Physica Scripta. 2025 Jan 1;100(1):0159a5.
  46. Rhaman MM, Matin MA, Hossain NM, Hakim MA, Islam MF. Prospect and barrier of multiferroic bismuth ferrite for application in solar cell. In2019 2nd international Conference on innovation in Engineering and Technology (ICIET) 2019 Dec 23 (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
  47. Kebede MT, Dillu V, Devi S, Chauhan S. Phase transition and optical properties of samarium-doped BiFeO3 Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. 2020 Nov;31(22):19950-60.
  48. Matin, M. A., Hossain, M. N., Rhaman, M. M., Mozahid, F. A., Ali, M. A., Hakim, M. A., & Islam, M. F. (2019). Dielectric and optical properties of Ni-doped LaFeO3 SN Applied Sciences, 1(11), 1479.
  49. Hossain MN, Rhaman MM, Ali MA, Jahan N, Momin AA, Rahman MM, Hakim MA. Novel gadolinium (Gd) and chromium (Cr) co-doped yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12) nanoparticles. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 2024 Jul;49(7):9967-82.
  50. Catalan G, Scott JF. Physics and applications of bismuth ferrite. Advanced materials. 2009 Jun 26;21(24):2463-85.
  51. Yang H, Xian T, Wei ZQ, Dai JF, Jiang JL, Feng WJ. Size-controlled synthesis of BiFeO3 nanoparticles by a soft-chemistry route. Journal of sol-gel science and technology. 2011 Apr;58(1):238-43.
  52. Lomanova NA, Osipov AV, Ugolkov VL, Kenges KM, Yastrebov SG. Facile solution combustion synthesis of BiFeO3 nanopowder with improved magnetic and photocatalytic characteristics. Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 2025 Aug 1;178:114591.
  53. Niloy NR, Chowdhury MI, Shanto MAH, Islam J, Rhaman MM. Multiferroic Bismuth ferrite nanocomposites as a potential photovoltaic material. IOP Conf Ser: Mater Sci Eng [Internet]. 2021 Feb 1;1091(1):012049. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/1091/1/012049.
  54. Awni AG, Abbas ZM. Morphological and structural properties of bismuth-nickel ferrite synthesized by a combined sol-gel method. Nexo Revista Científica. 2023 Dec 31;36(06):1076-86.
  55. Gil-González E, Perejón A, Sánchez-Jiménez PE, Sayagués MJ, Raj R, Pérez-Maqueda LA. Phase-pure BiFeO 3 produced by reaction flash-sintering of Bi2O3 and Fe2O3. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2018;6(13):5356-66.
  56. Yuan H, Pal S, Forrester C, He Q, Briscoe J. Understanding the impact of Bi stoichiometry towards optimised BiFeO3 photocathodes: structure, morphology, defects and ferroelectricity. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2024;12(28):17422-31.
  57. Sahoo P, Dixit A. Interband electronic transitions and optical phonon modes in size-dependent multiferroic BiFeO3 Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2024;26(12):9675-86.
  58. Tauc J, editor. Amorphous and liquid semiconductors. Springer Science & Business Media; 2012 Dec 6.
  59. Rhaman MM. Comparative Sol–Gel Synthesis Approaches for BiFeO₃ Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Solar Cell Applications. Journal of Advancements in Material Engineering. 2026 Jan;11(1):1-5.
  60. K.M. Aktaruzzaman Shuvo, Md Minhazur Rashid Adnan, Md. Samiul Islam, Md. Meganur Rhaman,Influence of annealing temperature on the structural, dielectric, and impedance properties of Sm and Co co-doped BiFeO₃ for advanced electronic and energy applications,Next Materials,Volume 11,2026,101967,ISSN 2949-8228.
  61. Noguchi Y, Matsuo H. Origin of Ferroelectricity in BiFeO3-Based Solid Solutions. Nanomaterials. 2022 Nov 24;12(23):4163.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 16
Issue 01
Received 31/03/2026
Accepted 16/04/2026
Published 23/04/2026
Publication Time 23 Days
2

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics