New BaTi<sub>0.96</sub>Cu<sub>0.02</sub>X<sub>0.02</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (X = V, Nb) Photocatalysts for Dyes Effluent Remediation: Broad Visible Light Response
oleh: Ghayah M. Alsulaim
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-10-01 |
Deskripsi
The problem of industrial dyes depollution has pushed the scientific research community to identify novel photocatalysts with high performance. Herein, new photocatalysts composed of BaTiO<sub>3</sub>, BaTi<sub>0.96</sub>Cu<sub>0.04</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, BaTi<sub>0.96</sub>Cu<sub>0.02</sub>V<sub>0.02</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and BaTi<sub>0.96</sub>Cu<sub>0.02</sub>Nb<sub>0.02</sub>O<sub>3</sub> powders were prepared by solid-state reaction. The structural analysis of the samples confirmed the formation of the BaTiO<sub>3</sub> structure. The splitting of (002) and (200) planes verified the formation of the tetragonal phase. The XRD peaks shifted, and the unit cell volume expansion verified the substitution of the Ti<sup>4+</sup> site by Cu<sup>2+</sup>, V<sup>4+</sup> and Nb<sup>5+</sup> ions. The morphological measurements showed that the addition of (Cu, V) and (Cu, Nb) ions changes the particles’ morphology of BaTiO<sub>3</sub>, reducing its grains size. After the incorporation of (Cu, V) and (Cu, Nb) ions, the band gap of BaTiO<sub>3</sub> was reduced from 3.2 to 2.84 and 2.72 eV, respectively. The modification of BaTiO<sub>3</sub> by (Cu, Nb) ions induced superior photocatalytic properties for methyl green and methyl orange with degradation efficiencies of 97% and 94% during 60 and 90 min under sunlight irradiation, respectively. The total organic carbon results indicated that the BaTi<sub>0.96</sub>Cu<sub>0.02</sub>Nb<sub>0.02</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst has a high mineralization efficiency. In addition, it possesses a high stability during three cycles. The high photodegradation efficiency of Bi<sub>0.96</sub>La<sub>0.02</sub>Gd<sub>0.02</sub>FeO<sub>3</sub> was related to the wide-ranging visible light absorption.