A novel efficient boron-doped LaFeO3 photocatalyst with large specific surface area for phenol degradation under simulated sunlight

Boron-doped LaFeO3 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a facile sol-gel method using glucose as a novel complexing agent. The photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-vis DRS, BET, XPS and O-2-TPD techniques. The results show that the catalysts formed pure orthorhombic perovskite structures when the boron-doped content was less than 7.5%. The specific surface area of 3.5% B-doped catalysts reached 62.3 m(2) g(-1), but pure LaFeO3 achieved just 6.4 m(2) g(-1). The content of absorbed oxygen increased to 61.28% for 3.5% B-doped LaFeO3 from 38.2% for undoped LaFeO3. Compared with undoped and other boron-doped LaFeO3 photocatalysts, the 3.5% B-doped LaFeO3 catalyst exhibits the best photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation after 300 min of simulated sunlight irradiation. The superior photocatalytic activity of B-doped LaFeO3 is ascribed to these factors: first, the large specific surface area; second, the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes on the surface of the catalyst; third, the increase in oxygen centers for photocatalytic activity.