Photocatalytic Degradation of Water-Soluble Azo Dyes by LaFeO3 and YFeO3

Perovskite-type oxides LaFeO3 and YFeO3 were prepared by the citrate method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectrometer (IR), ultraviolet visible spectrometer (UV). The results show that complex oxides LaFeO3 and YFeO3 have stable perovskite structure. The mean particle diameter of YFeO3 is about 30 similar to 40 nm, while LaFeO3 is about 50 similar to 60 nm. Photocatalytic degradation experiments of azo dye acid red 3B were done using perovskite-type oxides LaFeO3 and YFeO3 as photocatalysts. Dye Acid Red 3B solution with the LaFeO3 and YFeO3 undergone several degradation stages and the photodegradation rates were respectively 68.2% and 90.0% after irradiating 2 hours. The results show that the perovskite-type oxide YFeO3 has better photocatalytic activity, which mainly relates with the factors of position A such as the negative, the electronic structure, ion radius and so on.