Sol-gel Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium and Cerium Codoped Perovskite

Abstract

Perovskites are an important group of ceramic materials with a structural formula ABO₃ and wide array of potential applications in electronics, superconductors, catalysis, etc. CaTiO3, by which the whole group was named for, is particularly significant due to its use in catalysis, but its photocatalytic activity is limited by a large band gap value (~3.5 eV). A possible solution is the substitution of A and B cations with foreign cations which causes the alteration of properties, including photocatalytic efficiency. The aim of this work was the sol-gel synthesis of lithium and cerium codoped CaTiO3, characterization of the prepared gel and ceramics obtained by its thermal treatment. Samples of codoped perovskite, Ca_1-xLi_xCe_xTiO₃, where x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04, were prepared and characterized using powder X–ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal and thermo-gravimetric analysis (DTA-TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the study of methylene blue photocatalytic degradation. XRD analysis showed that the prepared samples consisted of calcium nitrate and titanium chelate. In accordance with the established thermal evolution path, all samples were thermally treated at 500 °C for 2 hours. Beside perovskite, Ca₂Ti₂O₆ appeared as a secondary phase in all thermally treated samples. SEM analysis of thermally treated samples showed the presence of agglomerates of irregular morphology and the decrease of primary particles size with the increase of dopants concentration. The sample with x=0.04 showed an increased photocatalytic activity.