Photocatalytic Activity of BiFeO3 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Decomposition Method

BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles as a visible light photocatalyst were successfully synthesized by thermaldecomposition of the glyoxylate precursor achieved by the redox reaction between ethylene glycol and nitrate ions. TheBFO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy methods.The high purity bismuth ferrite nanoparticles showed the quasi spherical shape with the average particle size of 45 to130 nm, dependence of thermal decomposition temperature. The BFO nanoparticles exhibited strong absorption in thevisible region. Furthermore, the BFO nanoparticles were used for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a typicaldye pollutant under direct sunlight irradiation.

کلیدواژه ها:

BiFeO3 ، Thermal decomposition ، band gap ، Photodegradation