Novel composite BiFeO3/ZrO2 and its high photocatalytic performance under white LED visible-light irradiation

[Display omitted] •A functional inorganic composite BFO/ZrO2 was successfully synthesized.•The BFO/ZrO2 composite showed satisfactory photocatalytic activity, stability and reusability.•Effect of various factors on photocatalytic performance was investigated under white LED visible light.•The mechanism of the BFO/ZrO2 composite formation and RhB photocatalytic degradation was proposed. A novel composite BiFeO3 (BFO)/ZrO2 was successfully fabricated via a sol-gel method, characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS and UV–vis DRS techniques and used as a visible-light photocatalyst. The photocatalytic performance was investigated by the degradation of the refractory dye Rhodamine B (RhB) in water under the designed white LED visible-light irradiation. The results showed that BFO nanoparticles were firmly dispersed onto cube-like ZrO2. The photocatalyst prepared at the mass ratio of 0.3:1 of BFO to ZrO2, 30-BFO/ZrO2, displayed the highest photocatalytic activity. The high aqueous RhB degradation and mineralization were achieved under appropriate conditions. The degradation followed well the first-order kinetics, and the increased visible-light intensity, decreased initial RhB concentration and optimal initial solution pH favoured the enhanced photocatalytic performance. Quenching tests confirmed predominant reactive species, •OH and h+. The leaching of metals was undetected, meaning the chemical and light-resistant stability of photocatalyst. The photocatalyst also displayed good reusability.