Duple charge separation and plasmonically enriched DSSC and piezo-photocatalytic efficacy of Au anchored perovskite Gd3+:BiFeO3 nanospheres

Abstract

Enhancing the solar-physical conversion efficacy ability of the nanomaterials is an essential for real-time implementation. We report the enhanced solar-physical efficiency of the BiFeO₃ nanospheres via Gd³⁺ doping and Au nanoparticles decoration. Initially, we have obtained the Bi_1-xGd_xFeO₃ nanospheres were attained via a simple solvothermal technique and then citrate reduction of Au was conducted. Obtained perovskite BiFeO systems were studied for the Gd³⁺ doping, crystalline phase and elemental purity using the XRD and XPS techniques. Transmission electron microscope had revealed the ∼400 nm sized BiFeO₃ nanospheres. Optical absorption spectrum revealed the enhanced visible photon absorption occurring in BiFeO₃ for both Gd³⁺ doping and Au decoration. The bandgap values of pristine, 1%, 3% and 5% Gd³⁺ doped in BiFeO₃ are 2.2 eV, 2.19 eV, 2.17 eV and 2.12 eV, respectively. Conducted photoluminescence revealed the dual electron trapping occurring in BiFeO₃ via Gd³⁺ ions and Au nanoparticles. LED light assisted 72% of piezo-photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Tetracycline is achieved with Bi_{0 95}Fe_{0 05}O₃/Au, whereas the photo catalytic is only 65% and piezo catalytic efficiency is 58%. In recyclable studies the Bi_0.95Gd_0.05FeO₃/Au had shown the consistent piezo-photocatalytic efficiency for 3 reaction cycles. Further, fabricated DSSC studies revealed that near 30 % enhanced solar photovoltaic efficiency for Bi_{0 95}Fe_{0 05}O₃/Au (η = 6.5%) solar cells on par to the pristine BiFeO₃ (η = 5.02%).

Keywords: BiFeO(3); DSSC; Doping; Perovskite; Piezocatalyis.