Abstract
Here, CoFe2O4 was loaded on Bi2O3 via sonochemical technique to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi2O3. The coexistence and crystallinity of CoFe2O4 and Bi2O3 was verified using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) depicts attachment of CoFe2O4 nanospheres on sheet-like Bi2O3. Chemical states were examined using XPS. Visible light harvesting is facilitated by the narrow band gap (2.7 eV) of the nanocomposites (NCs). Reduced intensity in photoluminescence spectra indicates improved lifetime of electron/hole (e(-)/h(+)) pairs. The photocatalytic rate was boosted 3 - 3.75 times in NCs compared to pristine nanoparticles (NPs). The coupling of NPs resulted in type I heterojunction formation at the interface. The H2O was oxidized by h(+) present in the valence band (VB) of CoFe2O4 as it has higher positive potential and converted into hydroxyl radical ((OH)-O-center dot). High resistance to photo-corrosion and stable performance of magnetically removed NCs was observed. The growth of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was inhibited upon NCs exposure. The operational simplicity and potential visible-light harvesting promote the usage of CoFe2O4-Bi2O3 NCs in various sectors such as environmental remediation and antimicrobial application.