DyCrxFe(1-x)O3 nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical technique for photocatalytic applications

DyCr_xFe_(1-x)O₃ (0 ≤ x ≥ 0.4) nanoparticles were prepared using facile chemical route. Structural and morphological evaluation was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy. Formation of orthorhombic DyFeO₃ nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD with crystallite size of 9–10 nm. FESEM images revealed nearly spherical morphology of the fabricated nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique was employed to confirm the presence of Dy, Cr, Fe and O elements in DyCr_xFe_(1-x)O₃ nanoparticles. FTIR studies illustrated the presence of characteristics stretching and bending vibrations. UV–visible spectroscopy was used to analyze the photocatalytic performance of the DyFeO₃ and Cr-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles and optical band gap measurements. Photocatalytic activities of the prepared substituted and un-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles were conducted using three different dyes. These dyes were (i) methyl orange, (ii) rhodamine B and (iii) methylene blue. Lower band gap and higher photocatalytic performance was observed for Cr-substituted DyFeO₃ nanoparticles with methylene blue dye.