Solar/visible light photocatalytic dye degradation using BaTi_1−xFe_xO₃ ceramics

Abstract

BaTi1−xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) were prepared via a solid‐state reaction route. The presence of iron (Fe) in barium titanate (BaTiO3) eventually decreased the energy bandgap; thus, its utilization for water cleaning application through photocatalysis process was explored (using methylene blue [MB] dye as an indicative pollutant in water). Characterization of the synthesized powder was performed through scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The bandgap of the synthesized powder was calculated as 3.2, 2.12, and 1.67 eV for BaTi1−xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2), respectively. BaTi0.8Fe0.2O3 powder showed excellent results, and ∼71% of the MB dye (∼5 mg/L concentrated) was degraded using the photocatalysis process under visible light. To check the potentiality of BaTi1−xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2), the photocatalysis process was carried out by changing the concentration of MB dye (2.5–10 mg/L with a step of 2.5 mg/L) and the amount of BaTi0.8Fe0.2O3 powder (0.05–0.2 g with a step of 0.05 g) for ∼5‐mg/L concentrated MB dye. The treated water was further used as a growth parameter and phytotoxicity analysis through germination index on the wheat seeds. Lastly, the BaTi1−xFexO3 compositions (for x = 0, 0.1, and 0.2) were explored for water cleaning applications under real‐time solar irradiation.

Pulse-Poled Porous BaTiO3 Ceramic for Piezocatalysis Applications

“…The peaks have a good correlation with JCPDS le no. 05-0626, which suggests that there were no impurities present in the synthesized pellets and that they were successfully indexed to the tetragonal phase 30 . The Raman spectra for BT-0, BT-10, BT-20, and BT-30 pellets are shown in Figure 2(b).…”

Sonocatalysis and Photocatalysis in Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 ceramics

“…Using treated MB dye solution and tap water, no change in the morphology of V. radiata sprouts was observed. W1 is highly toxic and has a huge influence on the germination rate as shown in Figure 15 as its germination index is ∼40% 21 . Due to dye toxicity, growth was usual until a certain point, but after that, the plant was unable to grow due to its inability to absorb and retain water inside its roots as the dye molecules created a barrier along the way that has stopped the absorption process and movement of essential nutrients to the seeds.…”

“…19,20 Numerous techniques are generally used to improve photocatalytic activity, including tuning of energy band gap, transition metals doping, and anion implantation. 21 A unique family of piezoelectric materials called ferroelectric materials has shown multicatalytic effects that include photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, pyrocatalysis, and a combination of these. [22][23][24][25] Traditional ferroelectric materials such as BaTiO 3 and its solid solutions, LiNbO 3 , LaTiO 3 , and Bi 0.5 Ni 0.5 TiO 3 , are well explored for catalytic applications.…”

“…TiO 2 is one of the known and commonly used photocatalysts due to its great stability and good electrochemical characteristics 19,20 . Numerous techniques are generally used to improve photocatalytic activity, including tuning of energy band gap, transition metals doping, and anion implantation 21 . A unique family of piezoelectric materials called ferroelectric materials has shown multi‐catalytic effects that include photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, pyrocatalysis, and a combination of these 22–25 .…”

Ball milling–based piezocatalysis using .5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–.5(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 ceramics

“…which are frequently used for removing contaminants from the water. 1,2 However, within the broader field of catalysis, the piezocatalysis process is a new area of study that has attracted a lot of interest recently in water remediation. Piezocatalysis uses induced electric polarization in ferroelectric material as a consequence of applied mechanical stress/energy whereby employed in many applications, such as splitting of water, degradation of organic dyes, and synthesis of organic compounds.…”