Zinc-Ion Doped 7-Layer Aurivillius Compounds (Bi8.75zn0.25ti7o27): Structural, Morphological, and Optical Characterization

Abstract

      In this research, In this study, a novel seven-layer Aurivillius phase, Bi_8.75Zn_0.25Ti₇O₂₇ denoted as BZT, was synthesized using the molten salt method. The investigation included an analysis of its crystal structure, morphology, optical properties, and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of rhodamine-B. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data revealed the adoption of a C-type orthorhombic crystal structure indicated the incorporation of Zn²⁺/Bi³⁺ ions into the perovskite A-site of Arivillius. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis prouve the formation of Ti–O–Ti linkages on the B-site Aurivillius. The calculated band gap energy using the Tauc method was determined to be 2.05 eV, providing evidence of its photocatalytic effects. Additionally, experiments involving the degradation of rhodamine-B under solar irradiation exhibited an efficiency of 67%, offering a compelling demonstration of the material's potential for sustainable and efficient photocatalytic applications.