Single-phase BiFeO3 and BiFeO3-Fe2O3 nanocomposite photocatalysts for photodegradation of organic dye pollutants

Recent Advances toward Enhanced Photocatalytic Proprieties of BiFeO3-Based Materials

Owing to their remarkable success in photocatalytic applications, multiferroic BiFeO3 and its derivatives have gained a highly promising position as electrode materials for future developments of efficient catalysts. In addition to their appropriate band gaps, these materials exhibit inherent intrinsic polarizations enabling efficient charge carrier separation and their high mobility without the need for additional co-catalysts. Here, we review the existing strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic performances of BiFeO3-based materials and we describe the physico-chemical properties at the origin of their exceptional photocatalytic behavior. A special focus is paid to the degradation of organic pollutants and water splitting, both driven through photocatalysis to unveil the correlation between BiFeO3 size, substitution, and doping on the one hand and the photocatalytic performances on the other hand. Finally, we provide practical recommendations for future developments of high-performing BiFeO3-based electrodes.

Self-assembled BiFeO3@MIL-101 nanocomposite for antimicrobial applications under natural sunlight

In this paper, we report on the synthesis of a new hybrid photocatalytic material activated by natural sunlight irradiation. The material consists of multiferroic nanoparticles of bismuth ferrite (BFO) modified through the growth of the Fe-based MIL-101 framework. Material characterization, conducted using various techniques (X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies), confirmed the growth of the MIL-101 metal-organic framework on the BFO surface. The obtained system possesses the intrinsic photo-degradative properties of BFO nanoparticles significantly enhanced by the presence of MIL-101. The photocatalytic activity of this material was tested in antibacterial experiments conducted under natural sunlight exposure within the nanocomposite concentration range of 100-0.20 µg/ml. The MIL-modified BFO showed a significant decrease in both Minimum Inhibiting Concentration and Minimum Bactericide Concentration values compared to bare nanoparticles. This confirms the photo-activating effect of the MIL-101 modification. In particular, they show an increased antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram-positive species and the ability to begin to inhibit the growth of the four Escherichia coli strains, although at the maximum concentration tested. These results suggest that the new nanocomposite BiFeO3@MOF has been successfully developed and has proven to be an effective antibacterial agent against a wide range of microorganisms and a potential candidate in disinfection processes.