Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure BiFeO3 Nanopowders Using Triethanolamine and Their Applications as Visible-Light Photocatalysts

BiFeO3 (BFO) nanopowders were synthesized at low temperatures via a hydrothermal process with the aid of triethanolamine (TEA) and their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were investigated. As a result of a strong reaction between TEA and Fe ions, pure BFO nanopowders without any secondary phases could be synthesized at temperatures as low as 130 degrees C. BFO nanopowders exhibited a strong absorption in the visible-light regime, which resulted in the efficient photocatalytic activity for decomposition of organic compounds.