Ag-loaded BiFeO₃/CuS heterostructured based composite: an efficient photocatalyst for removal of antibiotics and...

The performance of advanced materials in environmental applications using green energy is the tremendous interest among researchers. The visible light responsive BiFeO₃ (BFO), BiFeO₃/CuS (BFOC), and Ag-loaded BiFeO₃/CuS (Ag-BFOC) heterostructures have been synthesized by reflux method followed by hydrothermal and wetness impregnation method. These synthesized composites are well characterized through X-ray diffraction, UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy techniques. Compared with BFO and BFOC, Ag-BFOC exhibits the highest photocatalytic performance towards the degradation of antibiotics ciprofloxacin (76%) within 120-min time and also showed better antibacterial performance towards gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii) bacteria. Moreover, the novelty of the present work is the addition of CuS on the surface of BiFeO₃ from heterojunction type II and facilitates the electron-hole channelization at the interfaces between BiFeO₃ and CuS. Again, the loading of Ag on BiFeO₃/CuS helps in shifting the absorption band towards the red end, is eligible to absorb more sunlight due to surface plasmon resonance effect, improves the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers, and enhances the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin. The antibacterial property of Ag gives a best result towards antimicrobial activity. The prepared composites have proved their durability and stability by four successive cycles and prove the versatility of the composite.