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Title: Manifestation of weak ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles

Abstract

Bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles were synthesized by auto-ignition technique with and without adding ignition fuel such as citric acid. The presence of citric acid in the reaction mixture yielded highly-magnetic BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite. When this composite was annealed to 650 Degree-Sign C, a single phase BFO was formed with average crystallite size of 50 nm and showed weak ferromagnetic behavior. Conversely, the phase pure BFO prepared without adding citric acid exhibited antiferromagnetism because of its larger crystallite size of around 70 nm. The visible-light driven photocatalytic activity of both the pure BFO and BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite were examined by degrading methyl orange dye. The pure BFO showed a moderate photocatalytic activity; while BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite showed enhanced activity. This could be probably due to the optimal band gap ratio between BFO and {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} phases reduced the recombination of electron-hole pairs which aided in the enhancement of photocatalytic activity.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. National Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Madras, Chennai - 600025 (India)
  2. Advanced Magnetics Group, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad - 500 058 (India)
  3. Polymer Lab, Central Leather Research Laboratory, Adyar, Chennai - 600020 (India)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22115985
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings; Journal Volume: 1512; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: 57. DAE solid state physics symposium 2012, Mumbai (India), 3-7 Dec 2012; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; ANNEALING; ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS; ANTIFERROMAGNETISM; BISMUTH COMPOUNDS; CITRIC ACID; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; ENERGY GAP; FERRITES; FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS; FERROMAGNETISM; HOLES; METHYL ORANGE; NANOSTRUCTURES; PARTICLES; PHOTOCATALYSIS; PHOTOCHEMISTRY; RECOMBINATION

Citation Formats

Sakar, M., Balakumar, S., Saravanan, P., and Jaisankar, S. N. Manifestation of weak ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4790994.
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Sakar, M., Balakumar, S., Saravanan, P., & Jaisankar, S. N. Manifestation of weak ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles. United States. doi:10.1063/1.4790994.
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Sakar, M., Balakumar, S., Saravanan, P., and Jaisankar, S. N. Tue . "Manifestation of weak ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles". United States. doi:10.1063/1.4790994.
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@article{osti_22115985,
title = {Manifestation of weak ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles},
author = {Sakar, M. and Balakumar, S. and Saravanan, P. and Jaisankar, S. N.},
abstractNote = {Bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles were synthesized by auto-ignition technique with and without adding ignition fuel such as citric acid. The presence of citric acid in the reaction mixture yielded highly-magnetic BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite. When this composite was annealed to 650 Degree-Sign C, a single phase BFO was formed with average crystallite size of 50 nm and showed weak ferromagnetic behavior. Conversely, the phase pure BFO prepared without adding citric acid exhibited antiferromagnetism because of its larger crystallite size of around 70 nm. The visible-light driven photocatalytic activity of both the pure BFO and BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite were examined by degrading methyl orange dye. The pure BFO showed a moderate photocatalytic activity; while BFO/{gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite showed enhanced activity. This could be probably due to the optimal band gap ratio between BFO and {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} phases reduced the recombination of electron-hole pairs which aided in the enhancement of photocatalytic activity.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4790994},
journal = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
number = 1,
volume = 1512,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}
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Journal Article:
DOI:  10.1063/1.4790994
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