Graphene nanohybrids for enhanced catalytic activity and large surfacearea

Nanohybrids containing graphene and bismuth ferrite have been actively employed asefficient photo-catalysts these days owing to the low rate of charge carrier's(e−–h+) recombination, moderate surface area with a suitable rangeof band-gaps. We have synthesized nanohybrids of graphene oxide (GO) and dopedBiFeO3 using a co-precipitation method and the doping elements were lanthanumand manganese, hence called BLFMO/GO nanohybrids. The surface area of BLFMO [La = 15%increased from 6.8 m2/g (for pure) to 62.68 m2/g (in nanohybrid)].Also, the bandgap of the BLFMO/GO nanohybrid reduced significantly up to 1.75 eV. Theresulting BLFMO/GO nanohybrid represents significantly higher catalytic activity (96% in30 min) than the pure BiFeO3 (30% in 30 min).