Synthesizing Bi1-xCoxFe1-yZnyO3Nanoparticles and Investigating Their Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties

In this study, Bi(1-x)Co(x)Fe(1-y)Zn(y)O(3)nanoparticles with values of (x, y (= 0.0, 0.2; 0.05, 0.15; 0.1, 0.1; 0.15, 0.05; and 0.2, 0.0 were prepared at 650 degrees C and annealed for 1 h by the sol-gel method. The optical and photocatalytic properties of bismuth ferrite were studied by the substitution of cobalt and zinc elements for bismuth and iron under various percentages. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and UV-visible spectrophotometer were used to characterize the prepared samples. The results of the structural analyses showed that by increasing the amount of Co and Zn doped, the structure of the samples changed from rhombohedral to rectangular phase. Moreover, the ferromagnetic properties of the samples were improved with variation in the amount of Co and Zn doped. Also, the results of optical experiments revealed that the bandgap and photocatalytic properties of the samples were decreased by changing the amount of Co and Zn doped.