Gd and Zr Co-Doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub> Magnetic Nanoparticles for Piezo-Photocatalytic Degradation of Ofloxacin

Addressing the limitations of poor piezoelectric photocatalytic activity and insufficient magnetic recovery in pure BiFeO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles, Gd and Zr co-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method. The structural characterization rev...

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Main Authors: Xuan Liu, Jie Chao, Feifei Guo, Liangliang Chang, Xinyang Zhang, Wei Long, Zengzhe Xi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/11/792
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Summary:Addressing the limitations of poor piezoelectric photocatalytic activity and insufficient magnetic recovery in pure BiFeO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles, Gd and Zr co-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method. The structural characterization revealed a rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic phase transition with reduced grain size (~35 nm) and lattice distortion due to dopant incorporation. An XPS analysis confirmed Fe<sup>3+</sup> dominance and oxygen vacancy enrichment, while optimized BGFZ9 exhibited enhanced remanent magnetization (0.1753 emu/g, 14.14 increase) compared to undoped BFO. The synergistic piezo-photocatalytic system achieved 81.08% Ofloxacin degradation within 120 min (rate constant: 0.0136 min<sup>−1</sup>, 1.26 higher than BFO) through stress-induced piezoelectric fields that promoted electron transfer for ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>/·OH radical generation via O<sub>2</sub> reduction. The Ofloxacin degradation efficiency decreased to 24.36% after four cycles, with structural integrity confirmed by XRD phase stability. This work demonstrates a triple-optimization mechanism (crystal phase engineering, defect modulation, and magnetic enhancement) for designing magnetically recoverable multiferroic catalysts in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.
ISSN:2079-4991