Photocatalytic degradation of azophloxine on porous La2Ti2O7 prepared by sol-gel method

• Published in: Solid state sciences Vol. 87; pp. 58 - 63
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wenjie, Li, Haolun, Ma, Zheng, Li, Hong, Wang, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Azophloxine; Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide; Degradation; Lanthanum titanate; Photocatalysis; Degradation; Azophloxine; Lanthanum titanate; Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 1293-2558; 1873-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2018.11.004

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used in a sol-gel route to synthesize porous lanthanum titanate. The materials are composed of perovskite La2Ti2O7 in monoclinic system. The addition of CTAB does not cause phase transformation, but leads to a slight decreasing tendency of La2Ti2O7 crystallite size. Both the pore volume and pore size distribution range are enlarged after using CTAB. The sample obtained with 4 g CTAB has the maximum BET specific surface area of 42.4 m2/g. When the amount of CTAB is less than 4 g, the increase in photocatalytic degradation efficiency is almost in linear relationship to the amount of CTAB. The reaction rate constants are 0.0032, 0.0116 and 0.0237 min−1 on the La2Ti2O7 samples obtained using 0, 2 and 4 g CTAB. The functional groups in azophloxine molecule are decomposed during photocatalytic oxidation with extending irradiation time. [Display omitted] •The materials were composed of perovskite La2Ti2O7 in monoclinic system.•Rising CTAB amount caused reduced crystallization of perovskite La2Ti2O7.•Both the pore volume and pore size distribution range were enlarged after using CTAB.•Photocatalytic degradation efficiency increased with rising CTAB amount.