Abstract
Effective La-doped SrTiO3 (Sr1−xLaxTiO3, x = 0–0.1 mol.% La-doped) nanocubes were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The influence of different La dopant concentrations on the physicochemical properties of the host structure of SrTiO3 was fully characterized. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the Sr2+ in the crystal lattice of SrTiO3 was substituted by La3+. As a result, the absorption region of the Sr1−xLaxTiO3 could be extended to visible light. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed that their morphologies are associated with an increased surface area and an increased La-doping concentration. The decrease in the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the dopant samples showed more defect levels created by the dopant La+3 cations in the SrTiO3 structure. The photocatalytic activities of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 were evaluated with regard to the degradation of 2-naphthol at typical conditions under artificial solar light. Among the candidates, Sr0.95La0.05TiO3 exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance for the degradation of 2-naphthol, which reached 92% degradation efficiency, corresponding to a 0.0196 min−1 degradation rate constant, within 180 minutes of irradiation. Manipulating the structure of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocubes could produce a more effective and stable degradation efficiency than their parent compound, SrTiO3. The parameters remarkably influence the Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocubes’ structure, and their degradation efficiencies were also studied. Undoubtedly, substantial breakthroughs of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocube photocatalysts toward the treatment of organic contaminants from industrial wastewater are expected shortly.
Highlights
To date, 2-naphthol, or β-naphthol, is one of the most important industrial chemicals, and it is used extensively in dyestuff manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and some biogeochemical processes [1]
We focused on exploring the influences of the dopant amount of La on the photocatalytic activity of La-doped SrTiO3 nanocubes synthesized via an autoclave hydrothermal method
The degraured to be approximately 7.78, 7.42, 7.32, and 7.61, respectively, which reveals that the charge on the surface of SrTiO3 has been modified by La doping
Summary
2-naphthol, or β-naphthol, is one of the most important industrial chemicals, and it is used extensively in dyestuff manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and some biogeochemical processes [1]. Strontium titanate (SrTiO3 ) displays more impressive photocatalytic activity than the well-known TiO2 due to its intense catalytic activity, high chemical stability, high thermal stability, good biological compatibility, and long lifetime of electron–hole pair recombination [32,36,37,38,39]. It has been investigated as a photocatalyst in hazardous organic degradation [40] and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution [41]. A series of La-doped SrTiO3 (Sr1−x Lax TiO3 ) photocatalysts with different doping concentrations was successfully prepared, and their activity for 2-naphthol degradation was investigated under various conditions. Exhibited promising photocatalytic performance for the visible-light–driven degradation of 2-naphthol
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