Coinage metal (Ag, Cu) decorated BiFeO3 nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and their photocatalysis properties

Plasmonic enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of industrial pollutants viz., Naphthol blue black and Sudan-I dyes for bare and coinage metal (Ag, Cu) decorated BiFeO3 nanoparticles have been presented. BiFeO3 nanoparticles have been synthesized by hydrothermal method and photo-deposition of the coinage metals (Ag, Cu) done. The size of the synthesized nanoparticles and the presence of metals on the surface of BiFeO3 have been tested by the transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Red-shift in the band gap of BiFeO3 has been observed with decoration of metals in the optical spectra. Time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and action spectra have been done to understand the dynamics of the charge carriers and average relaxation time. The degradation efficiency of the Ag decorated BiFeO3 found to be higher than that of the bare and Cu decorated. The mechanism to understand the enhancement of photocatalytic activities has been presented.