Study on Structural, Multiferroic, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Ferroelectromagnetic Nanoparticles: Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3

Ferroelectromagnetic nanoparticles (Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3) have been successfully fabricated for multifunctional applications and photocatalytic degradation of an industrial dye. X-ray diffraction of Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3 nanoparticles suggested the pure phase formation with tetragonal structure. The average particle size was found to vary in the range of 10-15 nm. An anomaly in dielectric constant was observed in the vicinity of antiferromagnetic transition temperature. Also, impedance spectroscopy measurements clearly indicated a non-Debye-type relaxation phenomenon in Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3 ceramic. The resistivity of the Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3 ceramic was of the order of 10(7)Omega and was found to decrease with an increase in temperature. The remnant polarization (P (r)) value of 9.77 mu C/cm (2) and weak ferromagnetic properties with a magnetization value of 0.025 emu/g were induced. The appropriate energy bandgap of nanoparticles (E (g) = 2.161 eV) makes it suitable for the degradation of azo-dye in the visible region. The absorption peak intensity of azo-dye gradually decreased with the addition of Bi0.9Ba0.1Fe0.8Ti0.2O3 nanoparticles. Finally, the nanoparticles degrade the azo-dye at approximately 94 % after 80 min in acidic medium.