SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF THE PROPERTIES OF MAGNETICALLY SEPARABLE NANOPHOTOCATALYST BiFeO3

Abstract

The magnetically separable nanophotocatalyst BiFeO3 were synthesis via facile one-step the self-propagating combustion of solutions method. It is shown that this method can be used to synthesize a phase homogeneous and nanosized powder with a BiFeO3 phase purity 99%. The effect of heat treated temperature on the morphology, structure and optical properties of BiFeO3 is investigated. The optimal parameters of heat treating temperature for the application of BiFeO3 as a photocatalyst are established. Using Mulliken's electronegativity theory, a possible mechanism of methyl orange (MO) decomposition was established. It is shown that the most probable is the oxidation of MO by hydroxyl radicals.