Investigation on the photocatalytic behaviors of europium carbonate and oxide nanoparticles prepared based on statistically optimized carbonation and calcination routes

Abstract

This study is focused on evaluating the photocatalytic properties of the europium carbonate and oxide nanoparticles synthesized via optimizing the direct precipitation and decomposition of the precipitate as a precursor into europium oxide by thermal decomposition. The emphasis was directed towards determining the optimal reaction conditions. To this end, the Taguchi method was used to determine the best parameters for the reaction. The carbonate product at this stage, was used in a further step where it underwent a one-step calcinations treatment leading to its decomposition into europium oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were next characterized using X-ray diffraction, SEM, FT-IR and thermal analysis techniques. Then, the photocatalytic behaviors of the europium carbonate and oxide nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under ultraviolet light was investigated and the results exhibited efficient degradation of the target in the presence of both nanoparticles as photocatalysts.