A novel visible-light-sensitive strontium carbonate photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity

A novel visible-light-sensitive strontium carbonate photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity was prepared from strontium hydroxide by calcination in air at moderate temperature. The SrCO3 photocatalyst was characterized by UV-vis diffuse reflection spectrum, X-ray powder diffraction and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of methyl blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation (lambda > 400 nm). The results show that the photodegradation efficiency of MB on the SrCO3 catalyst reached 98.2% after irradiation for 180 min, which is much higher than that of commercial TiO2 (P25). Effects of heat treatment on the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst SrCO3 were also investigated. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.