Perovskite oxide nanoparticles: Dual role as supports for luminescent Eu(III) ions and photocatalysts for bisphenol degradation

Abstract

Perovskite oxides, such as CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3, have gained significant recognition for their dual role as luminescence supports and photocatalytic materials. In this study, we synthesized perovskite oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using the thermal calcination method and employed them as photocatalysts for the degradation of bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) under UVC irradiation. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were thoroughly examined for the photocatalytic degradation process and identified secondary products were identified using liquid chromatography in conjunction with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our observations highlighted the relatively faster photocatalytic degradation of BPS compared to BPAF. Notably, among the perovskite oxide materials, SrTiO3 exhibited the highest catalytic activity for BPS degradation, while BaTiO3 outperformed in the case of BPAF degradation. Perovskite oxide NPs were also utilized as supports for doping with Eu3+ ions to create phosphor supports. Luminescent emissions from the Eu3+ ions, characterized by the 5D0 → 7FJ = 0-4 transitions, were observed and varied depending on the support material. Notably, Eu3+ doped in CaTiO3 nanoparticles exhibited the highest luminescence efficiency. These results highlight the dual functionality of perovskite oxide-based materials in phosphor applications and photocatalysis, offering valuable insights into their potential for both enhancing luminescence efficiency and treating bisphenols.