Bimetal doping enhanced polarization electric field in BiFeO3 for piezocatalytic U(VI) reduction and hydrogen production

This study investigates the enhanced piezocatalytic performance of Sm and Mn codoped bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) for uranium (U(VI)) reduction and hydrogen (H2) production from organic wastewater. BFO was synthesized via the hydrothermal method, and the introduction of Sm and Mn dopants reduced the band gap, while simultaneously improving the polarization electric field and piezoelectric coefficients, collectively boosting the piezocatalytic efficiency. The BSFMO-2 catalyst achieved a U(VI) removal rate of 94.8 % within 120 min (k = 23.6 x10- 3 min- 1), 8.28 times greater than pure BFO, and generated H2 at 402 mu mol g- 1 h- 1 in norfloxacin wastewater without sacrificial agents. These results demonstrate that doping can significantly enhance BFO's piezocatalytic properties, offering a promising approach for wastewater treatment and sustainable energy production. The study also highlights the potential of this method for application in seawater environments, providing valuable insights for advancing bimetal doping strategies in environmental and energy technologies.