This paper presents the results of the synthesis of samarium-doped bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles by the solution combustion method. The dependence of BFO properties on the amount of the samarium (Sm) in the composition was studied. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman, Electron Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (EDRS) and Electron Magnetic Resonance (EMR). The photocatalytic (PC) measurements showed the absence of a strict correlation between the PC activity and the crystallite size and band gap. An increase in the PC activity of BFO samples with 10 and 15% doping was observed and it was concluded that in controlling the PC properties in doped BFO, the processes of interfacial polarization at the boundaries of the morphotropic phase transition are of decisive importance. It was supposed that the internal electric field formed at these boundaries contributes to the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers.

Amirkhanov Institute of Physics of Dagestan Federal Research Center Russian Academy of Sciences 367003 Makhachkala Russia

Central European Institute of Technology Purkyňova 656 123 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Ecology Dagestan State University St M Gadjieva 43 a Dagestan Republic 367015 Makhachkala Russia

Department of Physics Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication Brno University of Technology Technicka 10 616 00 Brno Czech Republic

Directorate of Research Development and Innovation Management Technical University of Cluj Napoca Constantin Daicoviciu Street No 15 400020 Cluj Napoca Romania

Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan H Cavid Ave 113 AZ 1143 Baku Azerbaijan

Institute of Radiation Problems Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences 9 B Vahabzade Str AZ 1143 Baku Azerbaijan

REC Smart Materials and Biomedical Applications Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University 236041 Kaliningrad Russia

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