Synthesis and characterization of wafer-like BiFeO3 with efficient catalytic activity

Abstract Wafer-like paramagnetic BiFeO 3 were successfully fabricated via hydrothermal route without any dispersant or mineralizer. The obtained samples exhibited a rhombohedral single-phase and a narrow band gap of 2.05 eV. Its catalytic activity was investigated and it was found that the degradation efficiency of 10 mg L −1 Rhodamine B was above 90.5% over 1.0 g L −1 BiFeO 3 within 10 mmol L −1 H 2 O 2 at pH 5.7 and temperature 25 °C in 3 h under the visible-light irradiation. It was revealed that BiFeO 3 possessed excellent reusability. The modified electrode of synthesized BiFeO 3 –chitosan–glassy carbon electrode could dramatically enhance the peak current in 1 mM K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ]/K 4 [Fe(CN) 6 ] solution, suggesting its potential application in electrochemical analysis.