Visible/solar light active transparent BiB3O6 glass- ceramics multi-catalysis

Abstract

Borate based non-centrosymmertic crystals are known for their non-linear optical properties. This study reports BiB₃O₆ glass-ceramics for photocatalysis and piezocatalysis applications. These were fabricated via. melt-quench technique and yellow transparent glass samples were made. Effectiveness of a bismuth-triborate glass-ceramic (BiB₃O₆) in degrading methylene blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV) dye undergoing photocatalysis in the presence of visible light and solar light for MB dye was studied. Degradation observed in photocatalysis was ∼62 % and ∼50 % for MB and MV dye respectively in 240 min whereas, ∼72 % of MB dye was degraded under solar light. Piezocatalysis was examined to assess the extended potential of this material, resulting in approximately ∼76 % degradation of MB dye. Moreover, in synergistic photo-piezocatalysis degradation of ∼88 % was observed. Phytotoxicity was also assessed using the germination index (GI) showing ∼76 %, using heat treated sample.