Effect of ion doping in different sites on the morphology and photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 microcrystals

Ca/Mn doped BiFeO3 microcrystals were prepared by a conventional hydrothermal process. The crystalline structure, morphologies and photocatalytic activities were investigated. The results show that Ca/Mn doping in different sites intensely influenced the crystalline structure, morphology, dimension and energy band configuration of BiFeO3 microcrystals, which finally lead to great changes in its photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the results reveal that photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 system could be optimized by altering its energy band configuration through ion doping, other than variation in particle dimension.

• The effect of ion doping in different sites on the structure and photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 was investigated.
• Ca and Mn doping affected not only the particles size of BiFeO3, also its energy band configuration.
• Ion doping intensely influenced photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 by altering its particles size and band gap.