New Shape-Controlled Nanocrystalline SrSiO₃ Photocatalyst: Template-Free Syntheses and Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Nanocrystalline SrSiO3 with different morphologies was first selectively prepared by a facile template-free solvothermal method at different water/ethanol volume ratios. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2-sorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the as-prepared samples SrSiO3 displayed nanoflakes in pure water while obtained nanofibres in mixed solvent of water and ethanol (the volume ratio of water to ethanol is 1:1.). The BET specific surface area of SrSiO3 nanofibre is 161.7 m2 g-1, which is much higher than that of nanoflake one. The mechanisms about the formations of shape-controlled SrSiO3 are proposed and discussed based on a reaction-crystallization process. As a novel photocatalyst, the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples SrSiO3 were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of orange II (20 mg L-1) and the total organic carbon (TOC) value indicated that orange II solution can be mineralized in 120 min.