Structure, magnetic, and photocatalysis of La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MO(3) (M = Mn, Co, and Fe) perovskite nanoparticles: Novel photocatalytic materials

The present study, La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MO(3) (M = Mn-, Co-, and Fe-), perovskite, has successfully been synthesized via co-precipitation and sol–gel auto-combustion. XRD, SEM, and EDX characterized the prepared samples. XRD and SEM showed that the as-prepared La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) and La(0.7)Sr(0.3)CoO(3) have multiphase. La(0.7)Sr(0.3)FeO(3), in comparison, is nanosized, has a single-phase perovskite, and has a rather homogenous particle size distribution. Additionally, EDX mapping analysis shows that all pieces are distributed uniformly. According to X-ray diffractometer results, all calcined powders contain 100% LSF, more than 15% perovskite phase of LSC, 47% LSM, and other secondary phases, such as cobalt oxide. Aِt room temperature and magnetic field of ± 20 kG, La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior in a low magnetic field, whereas diamagnetic behavior was seen in a high magnetic field. La(0.7)Sr(0.3)FeO(3) samples behave as strong ferromagnetic. On the contrary, the photodegradation of La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) is 99% compared to 75% and 91% for other samples under UVC lights of wavelength = 254 nm. The degradation rate for La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) is 0.179 higher, about 3.25 and 2.23, than the other samples. A La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) nanocomposite performs as a photocatalyst to enhance the efficiency of methylene blue photodegradation. This study boosts good UVC photocatalysts with high efficiency for different kinds of dyes. Hence, the catalyst possessed high stability and efficiency for continuous wastewater treatment.