Synthesis route matters: Interrogating the structural, morphological, optical, surface, photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of lanthanum ferrite perovskite

Oluchi V. Nkwachukwu, Gugulethu P. Ndima, Omotayo A. Arotiba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The influence of sol-gel, solid state, and hydrothermal synthesis methods on the properties and photocatalytic application of lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO3, LFO) perovskite material is reported. The LFO from each synthesis route was characterized with XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM, HRTEM, and Brunauer-Emmeth-Teller (BET) analysis. The hydrothermal LFO possessed the most improved light-harvesting capability and charge recombination suppression as shown by UV–vis–DRS and photoluminescence studies. The hydrothermal LFO generated the highest photocurrent density suggesting the highest current mobility. Lower charge transfer resistance and improved photodegradation reaction kinetic were observed at the hydrothermal LFO photoanode. The extent of tetracycline mineralization, measured by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis for sol-gel, solid state, and hydrothermal routes were 62.5, 55.0, and 77.5 % respectively. LCMS provided information on the degradation and fragmentation patterns of the photocatalytic degradation process. This study shows that the synthesis route can affect the overall performance of LaFeO3 perovskite oxide.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100879
JournalNext Materials
Volume8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2025

Keywords

  • Hydrothermal synthesis
  • Lanthanum ferrite
  • Photocatalytic degradation
  • Sol-gel synthesis
  • Solid state synthesis
  • Wastewater

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • General Materials Science

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