Improved Optical, Multiferroics, and Photocatalytic Properties of Bi1−xSmxFe1−ySnyO3 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

Nanosized Bi1−xSmxFe1−ySnyO3 powders are successfully synthesized using a simple sol–gel auto‐combustion route. The X‐ray diffraction pattern confirms the formation of a pure‐phase crystalline structure in bismuth ferrite (BFO). The co‐doping of Sm3+ and Sn4+ into the BFO structure indicates structural distortion, and a decrease in average crystallite size. Transmission electron microscopy and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy images show agglomerated particles surface morphology with particle size of around 41 nm for BFO and 22 nm for co‐doped BFO sample. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicate a reduction in oxygen vacancies due to the co‐doping of Sm–Sn into BFO lattice. The co‐doping effect results in a reduction in the value of optical bandgap and an improvement in multiferroics properties. A significant enhancement in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye under visible‐light irradiation is observed for co‐doped samples, and these results are further supported by photoluminescence analysis.