Synergistic effect of band edge potentials on BiFeO3/V2O5 composite: Enhanced photo catalytic activity

Abstract

The BiFeO3/V2O5 has been successfully synthesized by simple annealing of BiFeO3 nanoplates and V2O5 nanoflower. The phase, structural, optical properties and chemical state of the BiFeO3, V2O5 and different composition of BiFeO3/V2O5 samples were comparatively characterized by various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The prepared catalyst exhibits unique photo catalytic and post-oxidation/reduction ability for removal of various (MB, Phenol, CV, RhB) water organic pollutants. Compared to pure BiFeO3 and V2O5, the different Wt % of BiFeO3/V2O5 composition exhibited higher photo catalytic activity. The fortunate BiFeO3/V2O5 interface hybrid photo catalyst makes a significant impact in the enhancement of photo catalytic reaction. This remarkable efficiency could be ascribed to the synergistic effect between the V2O5 petals and BiFeO3 plates. The exceptional morphology, increased surface area, uniformity, less-agglomerated spreading could increase the ability of visible light response, which lead the improved electron transport ability and the higher charge separation. The enhanced rate of photo generated charge carriers separations were evinced by the EIS and PL spectrum measurements. The allowed radical trapping experiment divulge that the hole (h+), and super oxide radical (O2-) are the minimized effect in degradation, on the other hand hydroxyl radical (OH) is plays the foremost role and act as the active radicals in the catalytic organism. In relations of above investigation, a probable photo degradation mechanism of the as-synthesized photo catalyst is carefully explicated. This effort delivers an effective approach to design and fabricate the efficient photo catalyst through integrating of materials, which has a potential for industrial waste water purification.