Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of LaTi<inf>0.4</inf>Mg<inf>0.4</inf>Fe<inf>0.2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> perovskite prepared by high-energy ball milling

Abstract

The LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 perovskite was synthesized using a mechanochemical process followed by high-temperature annealing at 600 and 800 ​°C. The effects of milling time and annealing temperature on structural, microstructural changes and optical properties were examined. The photocatalytic activity of LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 perovskite was evaluated through the photodegradation of methyl orange and methylene blue dyes under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the annealing temperature performed an important role in the crystallite size, crystalline degree, photoluminescence, and band gaps of the LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 samples. The temperature of annealing had a profound influence on the photocatalytic activities of the LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 perovskite in the single and binary dye system. The highest photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation showed the LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 annealed at 800 ​°C, while not annealed sample, show the highest activity for degradation of methylene blue. The maximum efficiency of methylene blue photodegradation in individual and binary mixtures was observed over non-annealed perovskite at the same irradiation times. The photodegradation of methylene blue and methyl orange on the LaTi0.4Mg0.4Fe0.2O3 followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic process.