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A novel synthesis of SrCO3–SrTiO3 nanocomposites with high photocatalytic activity

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Abstract

The results of the production and characterization of SrCO3–SrTiO3 nanocomposites as a promising candidate for efficient photocatalysts are reported. The production is based on a novelty route employing the solvothermal method with strontium chloride and titanium (IV) butoxide as the precursor solutions. The effect on the properties of the nanocomposites due to changes in the content of SrCO3 and SrTiO3 is reported. The as-prepared materials were tested in the photodegradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous solutions under the solar light. The reported route allows the production of SrCO3–SrTiO3 nanocomposites with particle sizes ranging between 18 and 29 nm. The SrCO3–SrTiO3 nanocomposites obtained with 19 % of SrCO3 phase and 81 % of SrTiO3 (M10) can achieve 94 and 97 % of dye photodegradation after 30 and 120 min, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Projects CB2010/165968 and CB2010/154857 from CONACYT. Diffuse reflectance, BET, and XPS measurements were performed at LANNBIO Cinvestav Mérida, under support from Projects FOMIX-Yucatán 2008-108160, CONACYT LAB-2009-01 No. 123913 and CB2012/178947. The Technical support from Ing. W. Cahuich, J. Bante, M. Guerrero, A. Guillen-Cervantes, R. Fragoso-Soriano, L. Lopez, D. Perez-Escamilla and L. Hernández-Hernández is acknowledged. M. Zapata Torres thanks the hospitality of Dr. Peña Chapa at the sabbatical leave in CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Merida.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica Agrícola, DICIVA, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato, Ex Hacienda el Copal, Carr. Irapuato-Silao km 9, 36500, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México

    A. Márquez-Herrera & N. Saldaña

  2. Ingeniería Química, COARA, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Carr. a Cedral Km 5+600, San José de las Trojes, 78700, Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, México

    Víctor M. Ovando-Medina & Blanca E. Castillo-Reyes

  3. Departamento de Física, CINVESTAV-IPN, Apartado Postal 14-740, 07000, México, D.F., México

    M. Meléndez-Lira

  4. Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Unidad Legaría IPN, Calzada Legaría 694, Col. Irrigación, 11500, México, D.F., México

    M. Zapata-Torres

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  1. A. Márquez-Herrera
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  2. Víctor M. Ovando-Medina
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  4. M. Meléndez-Lira
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  5. M. Zapata-Torres
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  6. N. Saldaña
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Correspondence to A. Márquez-Herrera.

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Márquez-Herrera, A., Ovando-Medina, V.M., Castillo-Reyes, B.E. et al. A novel synthesis of SrCO3–SrTiO3 nanocomposites with high photocatalytic activity. J Nanopart Res 16, 2804 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2804-5

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