  In this study, the effects of synthesis method and dopant Neodymium ion on
the ferroelectric properties and photocatalytic activity of bismuth ferrite
were studied. BiFeO3 (BFO) and Bi0.8Nd0.2FeO3 (BNFO) nanoparticles were
prepared through a facile sol-gel combustion (SG) and hydrothermal (HT)
methods. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray powder
diffraction (XRD), Furrier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and
transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. Both nanophotocatalysts have
similar crystal structures, but the SG products have semi-spherical morphology.
On the other hand, HT samples have rod-like morphology. TEM results indicated
that the morphology of products was not affected by the doping process. The
thermal, optical and magnetic properties of nanoparticles were investigated by
thermogravitometry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), UV-vis
spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The ferroelectric
properties of BNFO nanoparticles were improved compared to the undoped bismuth
ferrite. The photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized nanoparticles was also
evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light
irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles prepared via sol-gel
method exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity compared to powders obtained
by hydrothermal method. Also substitution of Nd into the BFO structure
increased the photocatalytic activity of products.

Applied Physics;Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics