Comprehensive Characterization of BiFeO3 Perovskite Synthesized by Pechini Method with High Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

This research focuses on the synthesis of BiFeO₃ perovskite by Pechini method with an objective to investigate its potential in carrying out the photo degradation of the basic dye Malachite green under visible light irradiation. The purity and stability of BiFeO₃ material was analyzed by different characterization techniques. The FT-IR spectra with the bands at 450 cm⁻¹ and 549.68 cm⁻¹ showed metal-oxygen bonding accounting for the creation of a perovskite structure, XRD data showed that pure-phase BiFeO₃ crystallized into a rhombohedral structure with a crystallite size of 30.06 nm calculated using Scherer's formula. SEM indicated particles in the nano range of 150 nm - 450 nm. Elemental composition from EDX results was close to theoretical values, thus verifying the high purity of the nanoparticles. Band gap was found to be 1.9 eV from UV-DRS. Based on its crystalline nature and band gap, this material may be utilized as a photocatalyst. An initial dye concentration of 40 mg/L and a catalyst dose of 0.75 g/L at 35 °C were found to produce the most optimal results in studies evaluating the influence of initial concentration of dye and catalyst loading on dye degradation. A pseudo-first-order kinetic Langmuir-Hinshelwood expression was used to describe the dye photodegradation.