Multiferroic Y[sbnd]Sn co-doped BiFeO₃ 2D nanoplates for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes: Synthesis, chemistry and mechanisms

Rapid global population growth has led to a corresponding surge in water toxicity, prompting the urgent need for innovative and reliable water purification methods. Various photocatalysts have been evolved to address the eradication of textile dyes from water reservoirs. In this research, multiferroic yttrium (Y) and tin (Sn) co-doped bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃, BFO) 2D nanoplates were designed using a straightforward sol-gel synthesis procedure. Yttrium and tin co-doped BiFeO₃ (BFO) 2D nanoplates exhibited superior efficacy in degrading crystal violet (CV), methylene blue (MB), and malachite green (MG) compared to pristine BFO 2D Nanoplates, positioning them as promising candidates for photocatalytic applications. Notably, the Yttrium and Tin co-doped BFO 2D nanoplates demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic activity, achieving photodegradation rates of 97 % for CV in 49 min, 97.4 % for MB in 35 min, and 98 % for MG in 42 min, outperforming pristine BFO 2D nanoplates. Additionally, scavenging experiments identified hydroxyl radicals (OH°) and superoxide anions (O₂°⁻) as the predominant active species engaged in the photodegradation process of CV, MB, and MG dyes. These findings highlight the potential of yttrium and tin co-doped BFO 2D nanoplates as effective agents for addressing water contamination by cationic dyes, offering practical and efficient solutions to a pressing environmental concern.