Effect of Gd and Ce Doped BiFeO3 for Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

In this current research work deals with the synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of gadolinium (Gd) and cerium (Ce) doped bismuth ferrite oxide BiFeO3 (BFO). All the samples BFO, BGF-1, BGCF-1, BGCF-2 and BGCF-3 were synthesized by sol-gel method. The structural analysis carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface morphology examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with EDAX and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the magnetic properties investigated using vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) and their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. The results found that the Gd (0.1 wt.%) and Ce doped (0.1 wt.%) BFO showed better photocatalytic activity as compared to BFO and other samples. HIGHLIGHTS An approach rare earth materials Gd & Ce doping in BiFeO3 Photocatalytic activites and Degradation constants well explained with graphs Gd (0.1 wt%) and Ce (0.1 wt%) doped BiFeO3 showed less photodegradation time than pure BiFeO3 & other doping concentrations Bi9Gd0.1Fe0.9Ce0.1O3 has enhanced photocatalytic degradation for Rhodamine B Degradation of Rhodamine B for the sample BFO is about 50 % and for Gd (0.1 wt%) and Ce (0.1 wt%) doped BiFeO3 is very high that is almost 90 % GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT