Preparation of Y3+ and transition metal ions codoped-BiFeO3 with enhanced magnetism and photocatalytic properties

s Nanosized particles of Bi0.95Y0.05Fe0.97M0.03O3 (M ​= ​Mn,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn) were successfully synthesized through thermal decomposition coordination precursors with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (H5dtpa) as ligand. All prepared samples were characterized by XRD, Uv–vis DRS, SEM, PL, EIS, VSM and so on. From XRD results, the main phase of the samples was rhombohedral R3c (161) BiFeO3, and contained a small amount of soft iron ore Bi25FeO40. The phase and morphology of prepared samples were affected by doping ions. The average grain size of the samples was about 20 ​nm.T.The Uv–vis demonstrated the band gap of all samples was less than 2 ​eV and the response to light of all samples extended from ultraviolet region to visible region (~650 ​nm).The BFO–Y–Mn exhibited the minimum band gap of 1.77 ​eV. At the same time, photocatalytic activities of all samples prepared were evaluated through the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO). BiFeO3 co-doping with 5%Y3+ and 3%Mn2+ exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for MO solution. In the present of BFO–Y–Mn, the degradation rate of MO under light irradiation of 3 ​h was about 98%.