Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline TiO2-SrO composite powders under visible light irradiation

Nano-sized homogeneously distributed TiO₂-20, -40, -60 wt.% SrO composite powders were successfully synthesized by a sol-gel method. The as-received amorphous TiO₂—20 wt.% SrO composite powders were crystallized with anatase TiO₂ at around 750 °C. As calcination temperatures increased, the anatase TiO₂ crystalline phase was transformed to rutile TiO₂ at about 900 °C, whereas nano-sized, squarish SrTiO₃ phase was detected. The peaks obtained after calcining at 1050 °C mainly exhibited the rutile TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ phases. However, a small number of SrO₂ peaks were also detected. For the comparison of photocatalytic activity depending on light sources, TiO₂-SrO composite powders were tested in phenol degradation. TiO₂-60 wt.% SrO composite powder showed good visible light photoactivity for the photo-oxidation of phenol.