Molten salt synthesis of SrBi4-xLaxTi4O15 (X = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) for Rhodamine-B degradation

Abstract

Four layered member Aurivillius compound SrBi4Ti4O15 has been reported for its potential as a photocatalyst despite its weakness, such as the high recombination rate of electron-hole pair. Doped with rare earth elements such as lanthanum could solve the weakness. In this research, SrBi4-xLaxTi4O15 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) were synthesized using molten salt flux Na2SO 4/K2SO 4 and evaluated the photocatalytic activity in rhodamine-B degradation. T he diffractogram sample indicates that target materials were successfully obtained, alt hough SrT iO3 phase impurities were formed. T he SrBi4-xLaxTi4O15 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) particles exhibit plate-like morphologies with agglomerates. Band-gap energy was calculated using the Kubelka-Munk equation from the UV-Vis DRS spectrum, and we obtained that its band-gap energy ranges from 3.02-2.97 eV. Sample containing the highest Lanthanum content (x=0.20) exhibit the best rhodamine-b degradation with 26.27% degraded after 60 minutes reaction under UV-light irradiation.