Improving the Photocatalytic Performance of BiFeO3 Perovskite for Overall Water Splitting Reaction

In this research, the improved heterojunction of BiFeO3 were synthesized by a facile and cost-effective method, for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic overall water splitting. Moreover, XRD, FTIR, FESEM, PL, and UV-vis were applied to characterize the structural and optical properties of the synthesized samples. The photocatalytic reactions were carried out in a quartz photoreactor with effective volume of 160 mL exposed to UV irradiation. In spite of the fact that the perovskite type BiFeO3 micro cube, g-C3N4 nanoparticles and ZnS nanosheets were not capable for hydrogen generation significantly, the composite samples showed the favorable photocatalytic activity. The highest rate of hydrogen production was about 160 μmol.h-1.g-1, and it was obtained by optimal sample.