Synthesis and visible light photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline PrFeO 3 perovskite for hydrogen generation in ethanol–water system

Abstract

Nanocrystalline PrFeO 3 perovskite type orthoferrite was synthesized at 700 • C by using three different synthesis methods, namely sol-gel, template and combustion method. The synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, BET-SA, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, FTIR and UV-DRS techniques to understand their physico-chemical properties. Characterization data reveal the formation of nanocrystalline PrFeO 3 perovskite composition with improved physical properties, possibly due to lower synthesis temperature used. PrFeO 3 synthesized by sol-gel method consists of crystallite size of about 20 nm with absorption maxima at 595 nm wavelength in visible light range. This photocatalyst shows hydrogen generation of about 2847 μmol.g −1 .h −1 , under visible light irradiation in ethanol-water system. The photocatalyst was further investigated for various operational parameters such as photocatalyst dose variation, illumination intensity, time, etc. in a view to optimize the hydrogen generation as well as to understand mechanistic aspects. This material appears to follow a semiconductor type mechanism for ethanol-assisted visible light photocatalyic water-splitting and can also be an interesting candidate to develop hetero-junction type photocatalysts.

Structural, thermal, elastic, electronic and magnetic properties of cubic lanthanide based perovskites type oxides PrXO3 (X = V, Cr, Mn, Fe): insights from ab initio study

“…The elastic constants (C ij ) are used to determine the effect on material by applied stress. These constants have [45] b Ref [46] c Ref [5] d Ref [15] e Ref [18] f Ref [47]…”

“…Benstali et al [15] investigated the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of PrFeO 3 perovskite compound by using the first-principles study with GGA and GGA + U approximations: this study shows that the PrFeO 3 compound has a metallic behavior in the framework of GGA and GGA + U potentials. Joshi et al [18] studied visible light photo-catalytic activity of nano-crystalline PrFeO 3 perovskite for hydrogen generation in ethanol-water system, by using sol-gel, template and combustion method. A nano-crystalline PrFeO 3 perovskite in ortho-ferrite type was produced at 700 °C.…”

Dielectric relaxation of PrFeO3 nanoparticles

“…Electrical and magneto-transport properties of Ni doped PrFeO 3 thin films are investigated [22,23]. Photocatalytic activity of PrFeO 3 has been also studied by Tijare et al [24]. Spin resonance of PrFeO 3 is reported by Song et al [25].…”

“…Despite of such detailed study of the structural and magnetic properties of PrFeO 3 in bulk form, there are very few reports regarding the electrical properties [20,21]. Some reports regarding the catalytic activity of PrFeO 3 in nano form has been investigated [24] but a detailed study of dielectric properties of PrFeO 3 in nano form is not available in literature to the best of our knowledge. The dielectric property of a nanoceramic sample is important for its applicability in technological devices.…”

Perovskite-type catalytic materials for environmental applications

“…Their photocatalytic performance was improved significantly through decreasing the optical band gap value by increasing Ce 3+ in the unit cells of perovskites, thus facilitating the absorption of light in the visible region [34]. Recently we also reported a PrFeO 3 -type perovskite composition [146] with a crystallite size of 20 nm, which shows a significant hydrogen evolution rate of 2847 μ mol g −1 h −1 . We have also synthesized CeFeO 3 perovskite using different methods, showing a band gap of 2.1 eV, which suggests that the material can absorb light in the visible region.…”