Photocatalytic water splitting with semiconductor materials has been investigated as a clean and
renewable process for directly converting sunlight into chemical energy. In particular, multiferroics MFs have recently
been used for applications in both photocatalysis (PC) and photovoltaics (PV) due to their ferroelectric properties and
narrow band gaps, allowing them to harness the majority of solar radiation in the visible range. As typical MFs,
BiFeO3 (BFO) and Bi2FeCrO6 (BFCO) have been recognized as potential materials for PV and visible-light PC
applications owing to their suitable band gap (1.4-2.8 eV) and good chemical stability. However, the investigations on
such materials for photocatalytic water splitting are still limited and efforts have to be undertaken to demonstrate their
full potential. An efficient PV system is at the basis on an effective PC process. Thus, the control of PV properties of
MFs is a critical issue for achieving highly efficient photocatalytic system. Here we will present, the controlled growth
and characterization of BFCO and BFO thin films and nanostructures via pulsed laser and hydrothermal techniques.
The PV properties of such systems and their photocatalytic activity will be also discussed