Enhanced photocatalytic performance through the ferroelectric synergistic effect of p-n heterojunction BiFeO3/TiO2 under visible-light irradiation

A BiFeO 3 /TiO 2 p-n heterojunction photocatalyst with ferroelectric synergistic effect under visible-light irradiation was developed through facile hydrolysis and precipitation by forming nanospheres of TiO 2 on BiFeO 3 nanocube to improve the photocatalytic efficiency. Analyses of the microstructure, optical properties , and photoelectrochemical performance indicate the formation of a core–shell heterostructure of BiFeO 3 /TiO 2 with excellent energy band matching. The BiFeO 3 /TiO 2 p-n heterojunction has enlarged specific surface area, higher sensitivity to visible-light, and improved separation and transfer efficiency of photoelectron-hole pairs than single TiO 2 and BiFeO 3 . Moreover, the composite exhibits superior photocatalytic degradation performance for methylene blue (MB) and common antibiotic tetracycline (TC) under UV and visible-light irradiation. The MB degradation rate within 180 min reaches 78.4% and 90.4% under UV and visible-light irradiation, respectively. Furthermore, the enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of BiFeO 3 /TiO 2 is explored by photoluminescence (PL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), transient photocurrent analysis, radical quenching, and band structure characterization.