Abstract
A simple solid-state route has been utilized to prepare Sr3FeNb2O9 particles with the tetragonal (SG P4/mmm), double-perovskite structure. The structural investigation and a calcination temperature optimization in the range of 700–1300 °C revealed that a pure phase Sr3FeNb2O9 could be achieved at a temperature of 1200 °C. The crystallites with the sizes in the range of ~5–10 μm, exhibited a bandgap of 2.25 eV as deduced from diffuse reflectance studies. The structural and the optical properties demonstrated its suitability for visible-light active photocatalyst applications. The electrochemical characterization indicated a comparatively negative flat-band potential value for Sr3FeNb2O9 particles with respect to the reduction potential of water, indicating its capability to reduce water molecule. A very low Pt loading (< 0.2 wt%) over Sr3FeNb2O9 yielded a high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm). Its photoreduction activity for water was found to be 1.4 times higher than that of the reference Sr2FeNbO6 photocatalyst prepared separately. The overall physico-chemical analysis in this study revealed that the suitable band-edge position of Sr3FeNb2O9 could be attributed to its superior performance as compared to Sr2FeNbO6. A mechanism is proposed to explain the photocatalytic behavior of the Sr3FeNb2O9 photocatalyst.
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Cha, Y.J., Bae, J.S., Hong, T.E. et al. Structural, optical and visible-light photocatalytic properties of Sr3FeNb2O9 oxide. Journal of the Korean Physical Society 65, 520–525 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.65.520
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.65.520