Synergistic combination of BiFeO3 nanorods and CeVO4 nanoparticles for enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity

• DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2023.04.024
• Publication Date: 2023-04-22T01:10:28Z
• Authors: Velu Venugopal; Dhandapani Balaji; Mani Preeyanghaa; Cheol Joo Moon; Bernaurdshaw Nepp...; Govarthanan Muthu...; Jayaraman Theerth...; Jagannathan Madhavan; Myong Yong Choi
• Keywords: Nanorod; Rhodamine B; Photodegradation; Visible spectrum

Eliminating harmful organic pollutants from contaminated water remains an urgent problem to be solved. Taking Rhodamine B (RhB) as a representative pollutant we sought design facile and scalable synthesis of BiFeO3/CeVO4 (BFO/CVO) nanocomposite catalyst for the degradation under visible light. BFO nanorods CVO nanoparticles were fabricated using single-step hydrothermal routes resulting materials could easily combined simple wet-chemical precipitation method. From morphological studies, pure BiFeO3 CeVO4 revealed 1D-nanorod 0D-nanoparticles, respectively. For BFO/CVO composite, 0D-nanoparticles well attached on 1D-nanorods BiFeO3. Also, 10 % composite provided efficient photodegradation efficiency (92 %) RhB with 0.0225 min−1 rate constant. Furthermore, obtained photocatalyst had low band gap energy value (2.01 eV) photoluminescence intensity when compared light illumination. The radical scavenging experiments proposed that •OH acted substantial role in decomposition pathway. optimized exhibits superior recyclability photostability. photocatalytic action explained by development heterojunction among where electrons can migrate at interface. These results imply composites are suitable photocatalysts elimination toxins water.