Synthesis of BiFeo 3 nanoparticles for the visible-light induced photocatalytic property

Abstract Design and preparation of photocatalyst with a visible-light response and high separation efficiency is important for its application in photocatalytic technique. In this presentation, sol–gel method was employed to prepare BiFeO3 photocatalyst using Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and Bi(NO3)3·5H2O as the starting materials. Only ethylene glycol (C2H6O2, EG) was used as the solvent and no other surfactants were used. The influences of precursor solution concentration and calcination temperature on the formation of purity and the crystallite size of BiFeO3 were investigated. Well-dispersed BiFeO3 nanoparticles with tunable size and band gap could be synthesized at 500 °C. The as-prepared BiFeO3 nanoparticles were used in degradation methyl orange (MO) and MO could be effectively degraded under visible light.