Photocatalytic and magnetic behaviors observed in nanostructured BiFeO{sub 3} particles

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3080131· OSTI ID:21190066

Shun, Li ^[1]; Yuanhua, Lin; Cewen, Nan; Yao, Wang ^[1]; Boping, Zhang ^[2]

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1. State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 (China)
2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083 (China)

Nanostructured BiFeO{sub 3} particles have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and the effects of particle size on photocatalytic activity and magnetic property of BiFeO{sub 3} were investigated. The optical absorption spectra indicate that the band-gap energy increases with decreasing crystalline size due to the quantum-size effect. The enhancement of room-temperature weak ferromagnetism can be observed in nanoscale BiFeO{sub 3} particles, which should be attributed to the size-confinement effect on the magnetic ordering. In addition, BiFeO{sub 3} nanoparticles with diameter about 5 nm show good photocatalytic performance by photodegradation of Congo red under visible-light ({lambda}>400 nm) irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 21190066
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 105; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
AMINES
AZO DYES
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
CRYSTAL GROWTH
ENERGY GAP
FERRITES
FERROMAGNETISM
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIZATION
NANOSTRUCTURES
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
SULFONIC ACIDS
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
VISIBLE RADIATION