Enhanced visible light activity of EuFeO3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by thermal treatment–hydrolysis precipitation method

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2020-06, Vol.126 (6), Article 476
• Main Authors: Sarikhani, Fatemeh, Zabardasti, Abedin, Soleymani, Ali Reza, Naseri, Mahmoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Catalytic activity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Electromagnetic absorption; Heat treatment; Heterojunctions; Hydrolysis; Machines; Magnetic properties; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Pollutants; Processes; Red shift; Spectrophotometry; Surfaces and Interfaces; Synthesis; Thin Films; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-020-03593-4

The present paper aimed to, through combination of TiO 2 and a rare earth ferrite and EuFeO 3 nanoparticles, synthesize a new visible light active photocatalyst. The EuFeO 3 /TiO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized by a thermal treatment approach, in combination with a hydrolysis precipitation processing. The influences of concentration of TiO 2 nanoparticles on morphological, magnetic and structural properties of EuFeO 3 /TiO 2 nanocomposites were examined by different characterization techniques. Moreover, the optical characteristic of the synthesized samples was evaluated by UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry. The nanocomposites’ photocatalytic activity was also assessed under the visible light ( λ  > 400 nm), considering Congo red molecules degradation. Considerable degradation efficiency was observed (68% after 30 min), especially after using EuFeO 3 /TiO 2 nanocomposites ratio of 1:0.5. The performed analysis revealed that EuFeO 3 /TiO 2 (1:0.5) nanocomposite could be structured in a way that led to a considerable redshift in the onset of light absorption in comparison with that of pure TiO 2 . The constructed EuFeO 3 –TiO 2 heterojunction caused a considerable increase in the photocatalytic degradation of the target pollutant, as a result of occurred diminished in electron–hole recombination.