Facile synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of Bi1-xLaxFeO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) perovskite nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, we report the combustion-based synthesis and characterization of La-substituted BiFeO3 (BFO) perovskite nanoparticles. Undoped BFO NPs (x = 0) were found to have a single perovskite phase with a rhombohedral structure, while La-BFO NPs (x = 0.05 to 0.25) with Bi3+, La3+, Fe2+, and O2– ions species showed an average crystalline size (≈ 16–22 nm increase) and a reduced band gap. Morphological analyses revealed that La-BFO NPs have an irregular shape, with a propensity towards aggregation and the formation of fused grains with well-defined grain boundaries. The magnetization-field hysteresis curves demonstrated that La-BFO NPs exhibit ferromagnetic behavior at ambient temperature. The surface alterations were assessed using the Zeta potential, and it was discovered that the La-doping BFO perovskite system can generate a negative shift in the flat-band potential. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of rhodamine B by La-BFO NPs in the presence of visible light was investigated. When a little amount of H2O2 was added during photocatalysis, La-BFO NPs demonstrated photo-Fenton-like catalytic activity, leading to 99.50% PCD efficiencies.