A soft chemistry route was employed to fabricate single-phase lanthanum modified BiFeO3 (BFO) powders. Effects of lanthanum concentration on the phase formation, grain size and morphologies of BFO powders were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction results indicated that perovskite phase have been synthesized at the temperature of 850 degrees C/2 h while infrared data indicates no traces of carbonate. Raman analysis reveals that lanthanum atom substitutes bismuth into the BFO site. A homogeneous size distribution of BFO powders was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)