Efficient piezocatalytic effect of SrxBa1−xTiO3 solid solution nanocubes with inhomogeneous lattice strain for bisphenol A degradation

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2022-10, Vol.260, p.117855, Article 117855
• Main Authors: Long, Jiajia, Tian, Wenrou, Zhou, Qian, Li, Najun, Chen, Dongyun, Lu, Jianmei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bisphneol A; Lattice strain; Nanocubes; Piezocatalysis; Solid solution
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.117855

The SrxBa1−xTiO3 solid solution nanocubes with high piezocatalytic activity obtained through morphological engineering and composition design are used for outstanding removal of BPA, which realize the efficient conversion of mechanical energy to chemical energy. [Display omitted] •SrxBa1−xTiO3 solid solution nanocubes with inhomogeneous lattice strain were synthesized.•Sr0.8Ba0.2TiO3 solid solution nanocubes exhibited the best piezocatalytic efficiency.•Both the large active surface and response potential are conducive to piezocatalysis.•The piezoelectricity is increased by the Ba2+ introduction into the lattice of SrTiO3.•Mechanism of piezocatalytic BPA degradation by SrxBa1−xTiO3 was proposed. Green and high-efficient piezocatalytic technology is considered as an emerging strategy to remove phenolic pollutants. In this work, SrxBa1−xTiO3 (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) solid solution nanocubes with an average size of about 10 nm were prepared by a rapid sol precipitation for piezocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). As a result, the Sr0.8Ba0.2TiO3 exhibited the best piezocatalytic activity under ultrasound with the degradation rate constant of 0.2393 min−1, which was nearly 2 and 1.5 times that of SrTiO3 and BaTiO3, respectively. The superior catalytic performance was mainly due to the large active surface and response potential of small-sized nanocubes. Simultaneously, the incorporation of Ba2+ can induce inhomogeneous lattice strain and significantly improved piezoelectricity. Active species capture tests showed that •O2– and •OH radicals played a key role in the piezocatalysis. It provides an efficient approach for industrial wastewater treatment in an economic and eco-friendly way by utilizing mechanical energy.