Auto-combustion synthesis of narrow band-gap bismuth ferrite nanoparticles for solar photocatalysis to remediate azo dye containing water.

Narrow band gap of ferrites makes it a good photocatalyst, and it plays very prominent role in the level of degradation of organic dyes by photocatalysis. In the current study, bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles were synthesized by auto-combustion technique. The synthesized BFO particles have the average crystallite size of 33 nm and band gap energy of 1.9 eV. As revealed by microscopic images, uniform, distinct, and hexahedral shaped BFO nanoparticles of 42.7 nm are formed. The BFO nanoparticles exhibited visible and solar light-mediated photocatalytic activity in degrading Acid Yellow-17. The optimum pH and catalyst loading were found to be pH 5 and 0.2 g/L respectively. Around complete degradation under solar and 95% degradation under visible light could be achieved within 135 min of irradiation. Around 85% and 83% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal could also be achieved under solar and visible light respectively. The degradation followed first-order kinetics in terms of COD removal. The BFO nanoparticles are promising as solar light active catalysts for wastewater treatment.