LAUSR

Abstract In this article, we demonstrate the synthesis of single phase Bi 1- x Sr x Fe 1-y Co y O 3 (x = y = 0, x = 0.02; y = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07) using a facile sol-gel route. The powder X-ray diffraction measurements of all the samples confirm the pure phase rhombohedral structure with a small lattice distortion. The morphological analysis demonstrated decrease in average particle size from ~ 64 to 41 nm with increasing Co doping in Bi 0.98 Sr 0.02 Fe 1- y Co y O 3 due to slower growth rate. Mossbauer study reveals the change in oxidation state of iron (Fe 3+  → Fe 2+ ) at higher doping concentration of Co. Further, the successful co-doping of Sr, Co into BiFeO 3 lattice remarkably enhances the saturation magnetization value from 0.8 emu/g to 2.3 emu/g and remnant magnetization from 0.08 emu/g to 0.532 emu/g. The enhanced magnetic properties of Sr, Co co-doped BiFeO 3 nanoparticles is ascribed to the breaking of cycloidal spin structure, more number of uncompensated spin on the surface, and oxygen vacancies. Moreover, these samples were found to be highly efficient for the degradation of Rhodamin B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. The best RhB degradation activity was observed with 7% Co doping Bi 0.98 Sr 0.02 Fe 1- y Co y O 3 (BSFCO7) due to its lower bandgap, reduced average particle size and larger specific surface area.