Large electric field driven strain and enhanced multiferroic properties of Ce3+/BiFeO3Nano photo-catalyst

Abstract

Photo-catalysis and electric field-driven strain in multiferroic nanomaterials have numerous applications in environmental remediation and actuators. In the present work, we investigated the effect of Ce3+/Ce4+ substitution on catalysis and strain-induced memory effect of Bi1-xCexFeO3 (x = 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12)nano ferrites, synthesized via sol-gel technique. The as synthesized nano ferrites were characterized via X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), BET surface area analyzer, UV–visible spectroscopy, Impedance analyzer, vibrating spin magnetometer (VSM), and P-E loop tracer for polarization behavior. The photocatalytic degradation capabilities of the photocatalysts were evaluated using the MB dye/Malathion pesticide under visible light, and degradation efficiencies were found to be increased from 48.38% to 72.07% due to band engineering and increased surface reactivity with the substitution of Ce3+/Ce4+ for MB dye and 64% for Malathion pesticide. With the maximum strain memory value (Sme %) 0.280, a considerable peak-to-peak strain (S+ and S−) and asymmetry factor (γs) were observed in the range 0.69–1.46%, 1.32–1.964%, and 18–31%, respectively. A significant enhancement in saturation polarization (Ps) values (0.84–1.22 μC/cm2) and saturation magnetization (Ms) values (0.89–2.57 emu/gm) were observed with the substitution of Ce3+/Ce4+ ions as evident from the ferroelectric P-E hysteresis loop and M − H hysteresis loop, respectively.