Fabrication of nanocrystalline LaFeO3: An efficient sol-gel auto-combustion assisted visible light responsive photocatalyst for water decomposition

Synthesis of nano photocatalysts LaFeO3 with orthorhombic perovskite structure by sol-gel auto combustion method was demonstrated The samples were characterized by PXRD, SEM HRTEM XPS and optical absorption studies Photocatalytic water decomposition over LaFeO3 nanoparticles activated at various temperatures without any co catalyst were investigated under visible light irradiation (lambda > > 420 nm) Highest amount of H-2 and O-2 evolved in 180 mm over the LaFeO3 activated at 500 degrees C was recorded to be 1290 mu mol and 640 mu mol respectively having apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) 8 07% The pronounced activity of nano LaFeO3 samples towards water decomposition was consistent with BET surface area and particle size analyses (C) 2010 Professor T Nejat Veziroglu Published by Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved