Bi12tio20/bifeo3 heterostructures : Synthesis and study of photocatalytic properties [Bi12tio20/bifeo3 hétérostructures : Synthèse et étude des propriétés photocatalytiques]

Bi12tio20/bifeo3 heterostructures were successfully synthesized using coprecipitation method. the obtained powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction (xrd),fourier transform infrared (ftir) and transmission electron microscopy (tem). the prepared bi12tio20/bifeo3 heterostructures showed high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange (mo) in water under uv irradiation,compared to bifeo3. the enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the formation of the heterostructure and to the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs and/or to the particle size.