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The effect of solvents and surfactants on morphology and visible-light photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 microcrystals

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Abstract

BiFeO3 microcrystals were prepared by hydrothermal method using different surfactants and solvents. The samples were examined by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The measurements showed that BiFeO3 microcrystals had solvent-dependent morphologies and crystal structure. The visible-light photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 microcrystals was evaluated by degradating rhodamine B on a UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometer. These results showed that the kind of surfactants and solvents played a key role in the photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 microcrystals.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11104255) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2011YXL060).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yuepeng Lv, Jie Xing, Changchun Zhao, Jingjing Dong, Huiying Hao, Xiuwen Wu & Zhiyuan Zheng

  2. School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Daimei Chen

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  1. Yuepeng Lv
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Correspondence to Jie Xing or Changchun Zhao.

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Lv, Y., Xing, J., Zhao, C. et al. The effect of solvents and surfactants on morphology and visible-light photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 microcrystals. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 26, 1525–1532 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-014-2571-1

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