Preparation of Crystalline LaFeO3 Nanoparticles at Low Calcination Temperature: Precursor and Synthesis Parameter Effects

Substantial effort has been devoted to fabricating nanocrystalline lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO3), and calcination is the crucial process of crystallization in both high-temperature strategies and wet chemical methods. Lowering the calcination temperature gives the ability to resist the growth and agglomeration of nanoparticles, therefore contributing to preserve their unique nanostructures and properties. In this work, we prepared crystalline LaFeO3 nanoparticles with a calcination process at 500 °C, lower than the calcination temperature required in most wet chemistry methods. Correspondingly, the experimental conditions, including stoichiometric ratios, pH values, precipitants, complexant regent, and the calcination temperatures, were investigated. We found that the crystalline LaFeO3 was formed with crystalline NaFeO2 after calcination at 500 °C. Furthermore, the structure of FeO6 octahedra that formed in coprecipitation was associated with the process of crystallization, which was predominantly determined by calcination temperature. Moreover, an illusion of pure-phase LaFeO3 was observed when investigated by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, which involves amorphous sodium ferrite or potassium ferrite, respectively. These findings can help prepare nanostructured perovskite oxides at low calcination temperatures.

Perovskite Oxide–Based Materials for Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Treatment of Water

Meeting the global challenge of water availability necessitates diversification from traditional water treatment methods to other complementary methods, such as photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), for a more robust solution. Materials play very important roles in the development of these newer methods. Thus, the quest and applications of a myriad of materials are ongoing areas of water research. Perovskite and perovskite-related materials, which have been largely explored in the energy sectors, are potential materials in water treatment technologies. In this review, attention is paid to the recent progress in the application of perovskite materials in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water. Water treatment applications of lanthanum, ferrite, titanate, and tantalum (and others)-based perovskites are discussed. The chemical nature and different synthetic routes of perovskites or perovskite composites are presented as fundamental to applications.

Motivated water splitting activity of ZnO-based Photoanode by the modification of self-doped Lanthanum Ferrite

The difficulty level of separation and transfer of photoexcited charge carriers in the composite photoelectrode is a decisive factor for the efficiency of the semiconductor-based photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Herein,...