Manipulating the structure and characterization of sr1-xlaxtio3 nanocubes toward the photodegradation of 2-naphthol under artificial solar light

Effective La-doped SrTiO3 (Sr1-xLaxTiO3, x = 0–0.1 mol.% La-doped) nanocubes were suc-cessfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The influence of different La dopant concentrations on the physicochemical properties of the host structure of SrTiO3 was fully characterized. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the Sr²⁺ in the crystal lattice of SrTiO3 was substituted by La³⁺. As a result, the absorption region of the Sr1-xLaxTiO3 could be extended to visible light. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed that their morphologies are associated with an increased surface area and an increased La-doping concentra-tion. The decrease in the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the dopant samples showed more defect levels created by the dopant La⁺³ cations in the SrTiO3 structure. The photocatalytic activities of Sr1-xLaxTiO3 were evaluated with regard to the degradation of 2-naphthol at typical conditions under artificial solar light. Among the candidates, Sr0.95La0.05TiO3 exhibited the highest photocata-lytic performance for the degradation of 2-naphthol, which reached 92% degradation efficiency, corresponding to a 0.0196 min⁻¹ degradation rate constant, within 180 minutes of irradiation. Manipulating the structure of Sr1-xLaxTiO3 nanocubes could produce a more effective and stable degradation efficiency than their parent compound, SrTiO3. The parameters remarkably influence the Sr1-xLaxTiO3 nanocubes’ structure, and their degradation efficiencies were also studied. Undoubtedly, substantial breakthroughs of Sr1-xLaxTiO3 nanocube photocatalysts toward the treatment of organic contaminants from industrial wastewater are expected shortly.