Synthesis, Characterization and Optical properties of Pure and Nd-doped BiFeO3 for Environmental Applications

Abstract

For the environmental remediation and degradation of pollutants the study of advanced materials is rapidly increasing due to large varieties of application. BiFeO₃ (BFO) having a perovskite nano material with a rhombohedral R₃C space group showing tremendous attention in photo degradation of dyes. Photocatalytic activity of BFO nanoparticles is a favourable field of research in photocatalysis. Photocatalyst properties of BFO enhanced by doping because of its reduce band gap energy (2.0-2.77 eV), multiferroic property, strong photo absorption and crystal structure. Recently, researcher shows great interest in the photocatalytic and multiferroic properties and doping effects of BiFeO₃ (BFO). Nd-doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles having general formula Bi_1-xNd_xFeO₃ (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20). Calcinations processes had done at two different temperature 550°C and 650°C. The size of nanoparticles is decreased by increasing the concentration of neodymium in the structure of BFO.  The presence of neodymium (Nd) doped in BFO enhances the photocatalytic performance by reduction of the electron-hole pair recombination sites and reformation of the band gap to improve the visible light absorption. The X- ray diffraction studies show that on increasing the doping concentration on Bi-site there are gradual shift in the position of the X- ray diffraction peaks. The UV- visible spectra shows a gradual decrease in the band gap from 2.23 eV to 1.98 eV. The presence of neodymium (Nd) doped in BFO enhances the photocatalytic performance by reduction of the electron-hole pair recombination sites and reformation of the band gap to improve the visible light absorption.