STRUCTURAL OPTICAL AND PHOTODEGRADATION PROPERTIES OF NANOSTRUCTURED BiFeO3 COMPOUND

This study presents a novel exploration into the photocatalytic properties of nanostructured BiFeO3, synthesized using the ultrasonication-assisted sol-gel technique. Rietveld-fittedX-ray diffraction studies reveal that the synthesized compoundexhibits rhombohedralsymmetry (R3c space group).The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the particles have a spherical shape with a flake-like grain structure. The particle size distribution, determined from the SEM images, is around 23.75 nm.The FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed the mono-phase composition.Optical properties, examined through UV-Vis spectroscopy, direct energy band gap of 2.216 eV. To further assess the photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3, the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) was investigated under visible light, resulting in an impressive efficiency of 98%.