A novel bentonite–cobalt doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles with boosted visible light induced photodegradation of methyl orange: synthesis, characterization and analysis of physiochemical changes

ABSTRACT

In this work, pure and bentonite-Co-doped multiferroic Bi_1-xBent_xFe_1-yCo_yO₃ (x = 0.00 – 0.03, y = 0.00 – 0.15) bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesised using a cost-effective solvothermal process without using any mineraliser. A meticulous investigation has been made on the structural, magnetic, electric and visible light-driven photocatalytic properties of bentonite–cobalt-doped BFO NPs. The XRD patterns showed a well-arranged rhombohedral crystalline structure with space group R3c. The structural phase transformation has been observed from R3c to orthorhombic with the pnma group for Bi_1-xBent_xFe_1-yCo_yO₃ samples. The SEM analysis confirmed the presence of components with villiform aggregates and new dense nanometric spots with an average crystal size of about 14 nm. The values of the dielectric constant of BFO NPs have been increased with bentonite–Co doping and are maximum (340 at 1 kHz) for x = 0.03 and y = 0.05 at 100 Hz. The saturation magnetisation value of 0.47 emu/g for BFO increases with bentonite-Co-doped BFO NPs to a maximum value of 1.79 emu/g for the Bi_0.97Bent_0.03Fe_0.85Co_0.15O₃ sample. The energy band gap value of Eg = 2.99 eV for BFO decreases with bentonite–Co doping, and minimum value, Eg = 2.59 eV for the x = 0.03, y = 0.15 sample. The percentage degradation efficiency of undoped BFO NPs (64%) increased after bentonite–Co doping to 92% for the removal of methyl orange. The improved ferroelectric, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of bentonite–Co-doped BFO NPs offer new application in multiferroic-based energy storage devices as well as the removal of toxic dyes (methyl orange) from water.

KEYWORDS:

• Dielectric
• Bismuth hexaferrite
• photocatalytic
• photodegradation
• methyl orange
• solvothermal

Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the PhD analytical Lab, Institute of Chemistry, The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur for providing experimental and analysis facilities.

Author contributions

Muhammad Jamshaid and Misbah Malik performed the experiments and prepared the original draft. Hassan Muhammad khan and Muhammad Altaf Nazir helped in data interpretation and using the software. Muhammad Ahmad Wattoo and khurram shahzad helped in manuscript preparation and editing. Aziz ur Rehman initiated the idea and supervised this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.