Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of Ni doped BiFeO₃ nanoparticles

This paper presents synthesis and study of Structural, Optical, and Photocatalytic properties of bismuth ferrite (BFO) and nickel doped bismuth ferrite (BiFe_1-xNi_xO₃) nanoparticles. The synthesis of BiFeO₃ and BiFe_1-xNi_xO₃ (x = 0.02, 0.04) are done by Sol-Gel method. After synthesis the samples of pure and transition metal ion (Ni) doped bismuth ferrite have been studied by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and Raman Spectroscopy. Optical properties are studied by using UV–vis spectroscopy using different wavelengths (range 300–800 nm). Photocatalytic properties are also studied by degradation of MB dye using prepared samples as photocatalyst. XRD patterns shows that all the prepared samples are crystalline and crystallinity increased by Ni-doping and shifts in XRD peaks by Ni-doping shows the distortion in the structure of BFO. Raman spectroscopy also indicates the rhombohedral distorted structure of Ni-doped BFO in R3C space group. FESEM micrographs shows that Ni-doped BFO has polyhedral and spherical shape grains and Ni doping cause reduction in grain size. Optical band gap reduced due to Ni-doping is shown by the UV–Vis spectroscopy results and Tauc’s plots. The increase in reduction of MB dye due to Ni-doping shows the enhanced photocatalytic properties of BFO by Ni doping.