Construction of novel magnetic BiFeO₃/MoS₂ composite for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance towards purification of dye pollutants

ABSTRACT

This research focuses on a novel visible light-responsive photocatalysis system employing MoS₂ and magnetically responsive BiFeO₃ for removing dye. Novel BiFeO₃/MoS₂ magnetic nanocomposite was successfully synthesised by a simple method and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Uv–Vis diffuse reflection spectra (DRS) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Comparing with pure BiFeO₃ and MoS₂, the prepared nanocomposite illustrated notably better photocatalytic activity. The outcome of the photocatalytic experiments depicted that nanocomposite reaches to about 89% removal of Rhodamine B in 200 min under visible light irradiation. The superior photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the high separation efficacy of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the BiFeO₃/MoS₂ nanocomposite can be separated and collected easily by an external magnetic field and maintain high activity after three times photoreaction cycles. Trapping experiments have contributed to propose the possible mechanism for the improved photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• BiFeO₃/MoS₂ nanocomposite
• Rhodamine B
• visible-light-driven photocatalyst
• wastewater purification

Acknowledgment

Acknowledgments, avoiding identifying any of the authors prior to peer review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported financially by the Research Council of Shahid Beheshti University.