Solar/visible light photocatalytic dye degradation using BaTi1-xFexO3 ceramics

BaTi1-xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) were prepared via a solid-state reaction route. The presence of iron (Fe) in barium titanate (BaTiO3) eventually decreased the energy bandgap; thus, its utilization for water cleaning application through photocatalysis process was explored (using methylene blue [MB] dye as an indicative pollutant in water). Characterization of the synthesized powder was performed through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The bandgap of the synthesized powder was calculated as 3.2, 2.12, and 1.67 eV for BaTi1-xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2), respectively. BaTi0.8Fe0.2O3 powder showed excellent results, and similar to 71% of the MB dye (similar to 5 mg/L concentrated) was degraded using the photocatalysis process under visible light. To check the potentiality of BaTi1-xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2), the photocatalysis process was carried out by changing the concentration of MB dye (2.5-10 mg/L with a step of 2.5 mg/L) and the amount of BaTi0.8Fe0.2O3 powder (0.05-0.2 g with a step of 0.05 g) for similar to 5-mg/L concentrated MB dye. The treated water was further used as a growth parameter and phytotoxicity analysis through germination index on the wheat seeds. Lastly, the BaTi1-xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) were explored for water cleaning applications under real-time solar irradiation.