Tailoring photocatalytic activity and magnetic properties of BiFeO3/CeO2/Bi2Fe4O9 composites

BiFeO3/CeO2/Bi2Fe4O9 (BFO-CF) composite and BiFeO3 nanotube were synthesized via the electrospinning method. The obtained nanotubes were characterized to analyze the structural, optical and magnetic properties. Results of XRD patterns and Rietveld analysis further confirmed the existence of multiple phases in BFO-CF composite, which plays an important role in terms of enhanced photocatalytic and magnetic properties. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern demonstrated single-crystalline structure of pure BiFeO3 nanotube and polycrystalline phases of BFO-CF composite. It was found that BFO-CF composite with an average diameter of 79.4 nm showed size effect, which enhanced the photocatalysis and magnetism. Magnetic measurements at 300 K exhibited higher values of remanent magnetization and coercivity in BFO-CF composites. The results of switching field distribution (SFD) measurement in BFO-CF composite at 300 K exhibited higher values of double peak than corresponding values at 10 K, which indicated lower temperature can inhibit magnetic reversal and weaken exchange coupling interaction between hard and soft phase. UV–vis spectrum measurements showed excellent visible light response, with a slight red shift occurring in the cut-off wavelength of BFO-CF composite. The measurement results suggested formation of BFO-CF composite, that induce higher separation efficiency of e−/h+ pairs, thus enhancing photocatalytic properties than that of BFO nanotube, which could be a suitable candidate in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.