Porphyrin functionalized bismuth ferrite for enhanced solar light photocatalysis. Issue 25 (17th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tudisco, C.; Pulvirenti, L.; Cool, P.; Condorelli, G. G.
• Is Part Of: Dalton transactions. Volume 49:Issue 25(2020)
• Page Start: 8652
• Page End: 8660
• Publication Date: 2020-06-17
• Subjects: Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; 546.05
• DOI: 10.1039/c9dt04514g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9226

Abstract

Abstract : A new organic-inorganic material which combines the BFO photocatalytic properties with peculiar porphyrin absorption was synthesized. Abstract : In this work, multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BFO) was functionalized with meso -tetraphenylporphine-4, 4′, 4′′, 4′′′-tetracarboxylic acid (TCPP). This new hybrid organic–inorganic material shows an enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes as it combines the properties of BFO which is an efficient visible light photocatalyst with peculiar porphyrin absorption in visible light. The anchoring of TCPP to the OH-terminations of the BFO surface through its carboxylic tethering groups was demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the material was also demonstrated through the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine-B (Rhd-B) in water under simulated solar light illumination. The TCPP molecules anchored to BFO slightly decrease (∼0.06 eV) the bandgap energy of the system and act as new catalytic centres, thus improving its photocatalytic activity. A photodegradation mechanism was also proposed. This new material is reusable and stable, as it maintains an unmodified photo-activity after several MB discoloration runs.