Ferroelectric, dielectric, magnetic, structural and photocatalytic properties of Co and Fe doped LaCrO3 perovskite synthesized via micro-emulsion route

Abstract

In the present investigation, La1-xCoxCr1-yFeyO3 (x,y = 0.0, 0.12, 0.36, 0.60) perovskite was fabricated via a facile micro-emulsion route. The synthesized perovskites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques to examine the effect of Co and Fe ions on the physico-chemical properties. The ferroelectric, dielectric, and magnetic properties of La1-xCoxCr1-yFeyO3 were changed significantly as a function of dopants contents (Co and Fe ions). Outcomes revealed that the dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of LaCrO3 perovskite can be tuned significantly via Co and Fe doping and La0.40Co0.60Cr0.40Fe0.60O3 have potential for photocatalytic dye removal under (visible) light expoure. The photocatalytic activity (PCA) of the pristine LaCrO3 and La0.40Co0.60Cr0.40Fe0.60O3 photocatalyst was evaluated under (visible) light irradiation for crystal violet (CV) dye. Experimental results revealed that La0.40Co0.60Cr0.40Fe0.60O3 photocatalyst degrdae almost 77.21% CV dye with the rate constant value of 0.01475 min−1. In the presence of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) scavenger, the PCA of the La0.40Co0.60Cr0.40Fe0.60O3 photocatalyst and rate constant value of the photocatalytic reaction decreased to 32.5% and 0.00491 min−1, suggesting the superoxide as main active specie. Results revealed that Co and Fe doping doped material is efficient for photocatalytic presentations under solar light expoure.