Exploring the role of fuel in the synthesis of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles by microwave-assisted combustion in solid state and the study of photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Blue

Abstract

The current research focused on the synthesis of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles using the method of microwave-assisted combustion in the solid state. The starting materials employed in the synthesis included bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, and iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O, with a 1:1 molar ratio and as an organic driving agent ammonium nitrate, (NH4) (NO3), along with various fuels such as glycine, urea, acetamide. The reaction conditions were optimized to achieve the desired BiFeO3 nanopowder, by using the molar ratio of glycine and ammonium nitrate as fuel and an irradiation power of 360 and 900 W for 20 min. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles by 360 W were analyzed for their photocatalytic performance in the degradation of the organic dye Brilliant Blue as a pollutant.