Sono-synthesis of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity in degradation of Rhodamine B under solar light irradiation

•BiFeO3 was synthesized in mild conditions with ultrasound.•Rhodamine B was completely destroyed in 35min under sunlight irradiation.•Complete mineralization was achieved in 90min.•BiFeO3 had no significant loss of activity even after four cycles of uses.•Hole had a main role in photocatalytic degra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2013-05, Vol.223, p.145-154
Main Authors: Soltani, Tayyebe, Entezari, Mohammad H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BiFeO3
Bismuth
carbon
chemical engineering
crystallization
Degradation
Ferrite
irradiation
mineralization
Nanoparticles
Nanostructure
Photocatalysis
Photodegradation
photolysis
RhB
Rhodamine
solar radiation
Sunlight
temperature
ultrasonics
Ultrasound
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Summary:•BiFeO3 was synthesized in mild conditions with ultrasound.•Rhodamine B was completely destroyed in 35min under sunlight irradiation.•Complete mineralization was achieved in 90min.•BiFeO3 had no significant loss of activity even after four cycles of uses.•Hole had a main role in photocatalytic degradation of RhB. In this work, pure bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) as a visible-light photocatalyst has successfully synthesized via ultrasonic method in a short time and low temperature. The product was characterized by different techniques. Then, the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated under sunlight irradiation by bismuth ferrites synthesized with ultrasound. The RhB in solution was completely degraded in 35min under applied conditions in acidic medium. The nanocatalyst did not exhibit significant loss of activity even after four cycles of successive uses. The total organic carbon (TOC) measurements displayed a complete mineralization in 90min. To determine the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of RhB, different methods were used. Based on the results, two possible competitive photodegradation pathways proposed: chromophores cleavage and N-deethylation. The hole as a reactive species had a key role in the degradation process. The BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles synthesized with ultrasound exhibited higher crystallization, smaller crystallite size and a higher photocatalytic activity than the sample synthesized with sol–gel method in stricter conditions.
ISSN:1385-8947
1873-3212
DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2013.02.124