Abstract
A series of La1-xCexNiO3 photocatalysts with different content of cerium element have been synthesized by sol-gel method. The as-prepared products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activities of these La1-xCexNiO3 composites under visible-light irradiation were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The effect of important operational parameters such as catalyst amount, reaction temperature, irradiation time, and comparison of photocatalytic activity with different dyes including methyl orange, alizarin red, alizarin yellow, xylenol orange were also studied. The results revealed that the La0.8Ce0.2NiO3 (LCNO) composites exhibited much higher photocatalytic activities than pure LaNiO3 (LNO).
Highlights
A series of La1-xCexNiO3 photocatalysts with different content of cerium element have been synthesized by sol-gel method
Cerium was chosen as doping atom to substitute lanthanum atom in LaNiO3 to prepare the novel La1-xCexNiO3 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) photocatalysts, and methyl orange solution was employed as a simulated waste water to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation activity of the samples under sunlight irradiation
The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images were taken on a JSM-6700F scanning electron microscope
Summary
Semiconductor photocatalysts have attracted enormous interest in cleanup of organic contaminants in effluent, because it is an inexpensive and convenient method which can totally mineralize dye molecules into H2O and CO2. Most of these photocatalysts only function as a photocatalyst under UV light irradiation due to their wider band gap of 3.2 eV~4 eV [1,2]. Much work needs to be done in order to identify structural parameters that help to improve available photocatalysts such as particle size, surface area, particle morphology, acid centers, and defects [9]. The photocatalysts reveal enhanced photocatalytic activities as compared to nonmodified LaNiO3
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