Abstract
In the present work, Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 nanocomposite perovskite has been synthesized using sol-gel method in the presence of polyethylene glycol and citric acid. As-synthesized Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite was annealed at different temperatures (500-1150 degrees C). The obtained perovskite Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 nanocomposites exhibit wide optical absorption in the UV-visible range with low bandgap values similar to 2-2.98 eV relied on annealing temperatures. The crystalline size of the annealed sample at 500 degrees C was 55 nm increased with boosting temperature to 168 nm at 1150 degrees C. The newly prepared perovskite has been assessed by MB photodegradation under visible light. Our findings reveal that, Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite with 26.18% orthorhombic and 73.82% monoclinic phases annealed at 500 degrees C is a superior photocatalyst than that of Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite containing 82.22% cubic and 17.78% orthorhombic phases annealed at 1150 degrees C. 100% of MB could be photodegraded by the Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite annealed at 500 degrees C. However, with the increase annealing temperature to 1150 degrees C, the photocatalytic efficiency was reduced to 60%. The overall photodegradation rate of Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite annealed at 500 degrees C is significantly 3-times higher than that of Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite annealed at 1150 degrees C. The superiority of the perovskite Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 annealed at 500 degrees C is attributed to the double phases formed (monoclinic/orthorhombic) framework, high crystallinity, and the high distortion of the Mn-O polyhedron. It is believed that the high visible-light absorption, lattice distortion and narrow band gap are considered to be the key factors for the high photocatalytic activity of the obtained Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 perovskite annealed at 500 degrees C. (C) 2017 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.