A straightforward synthesis of visible light driven BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic activity.

ABSTRACT

Herein, an efficient visible-light-driven BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposite was effectively fabricated via a facile co-precipitation procedure. The physicochemical properties of BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposites were investigated via Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoelectrochemical studies (PEC). The photocatalytic activity (PCA) of BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposites was assessed with regard to the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) when subjected to visible light irradiation (VLI). Upon 90 min of illumination, the optimal 3%-BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposite showed a greater photocatalytic degradation, which was ∼3 times higher than the bare AgVO3. The lower PL intensity of 3%-BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposite exposed the low recombination rate, which improved the photo-excited charge carriers separation efficiency. The experimental outcomes showed that the BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposite might be an encouraging material for treatment of industrial and metropolitan wastewater. Moreover, a plausible RhB degradation mechanism was proposed proving the participation of the generated OH and O2- radicals in the degradation over BiFeO3/AgVO3 nanocomposite.