Influence of graphitic phase on the structural, optical, electrical and photocatalytic properties of BiFeO3/KNbO3 based binary nanocomposites

Abstract

Synthesis of ternary nanocomposites of BiFeO3-Graphene-KNbO3 through simple solution method has been made at various concentrations of graphene ranging 0.025–0.1 % mole fraction. The obtained nanocomposite powders with varying content of graphitic phase were subjected to different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, SEM/EDX/Elemental mapping, HR-TEM, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, dielectric and photodegradation measurements. All above studies have provided the collective impression of the existence of all entities in the prepared ternary composites. Dielectric studies revealed that progressive loading of graphene content led to the increased pathway for the conduction of electrons in the sample. However, the loading of graphene at appropriate concentration has brought out increased dye degradation capacity of BiFeO3-Graphene-KNbO3 ternary nanocomposites towards methylene blue dye. The results obtained from various studies have been discussed in detail.