Effect of La3+-doping in silver niobate for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and Rhodamine B
- Authors:Chun Mun Khor, Mohammad Mansoob Khan, Mohd Yusuf Khan, Abuzar Khan, Mohammad Hilni Harunsani
- Publication Date:January 6, 2022
- Type:Journal Article
- DOI:10.1016/j.chphi.2022.100082
- Publication On:Chemical Physics Impact
Abstract
Photocatalysis can be used in water remediation, by which, toxic pollutants are removed from the water and converted into harmless products. In this study, silver niobate and 1% to 10% La-doped silver niobates were synthesized by the sol-gel method. FESEM studies showed that the morphology of the photocatalysts changed from prism-like to small cube-like particles with increasing La-doping. Also, the EDX mapping confirms the presence of Ag, Nb, and La within the silver niobate and La-doped silver niobates. XRD analysis verified the presence of AgNbO3 and AgNb3O8 in the samples. Furthermore, results from the Tauc plots showed that La-doping resulted in a slight decrease in band gap energy as compared to the silver niobate. The photocatalytic properties of the silver niobate and La-doped silver niobates were investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and Rhodamine B dyes. It was shown from the experiment that La-doping can improve the photocatalytic performance of the silver niobate.