Microwave synthesis of nanoparticulate EuFeO3 and its visible light photocatalytic activity

Using Eu(NO3)(3)6H(2)O and Fe(NO3)(3)9H(2)O as raw material, the nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was directly synthesized by a one-step microwave route without additional high temperature calcination process. The prepared sample was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results show that the EuFeO3 is single phase perovskite, and its morphology is nanoparticle with an average diameter of about 60-80nm. The prepared nanoparticle has an optical band gap of 2.3eV, and exhibits strong visible-light absorption. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was investigated in experimental simulation wastewater containing 10mg/L methyl orange (MO). The photocatalytic experiment indicates that the prepared nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was highly visible-light activities for the degradation of MO. It is suggested that the narrow band gap and the strong visible-light absorption are responsible for the high visible-light photocatalytic activity of the prepared EuFeO3.