Investigation of multiferroic and photocatalytic properties of Bi0.9Y0.1 FeO3 nanoparticles

Abstract

In this investigation, BiFeO3 and Bi0.9Y0.1FeO3 bulk polycrystalline materials have been synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction technique. Nanoparticles are also produced directly from their bulk powder materials by sol-gel method and ultrasonication technique. The XRD patterns ensure the phase transition from rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure to orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure of the Bi0.9Y0.1FeO3 (prepared by sol-gel) sample. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy images and their respective histograms demonstrate that the particle size reduces in Bi0.9Y0.1FeO3 nanoparticles due to the doping of Yttrium (Y). The absorption spectra confirm that the undoped and doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles exhibit considerably high absorbance in the UV to visible range. Notably, 10% Y doped BFO nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method exhibit the highest photodegradation efficiency. Bi0.9Y0.1FeO3 nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method also exhibit a remarkable saturation magnetization may be associated with the size reduction of the particles size, suppression of impurity phases, structural transition and also crystallinity of the materials.