Synthesis of SrTiO3nanotubes from green TiO2nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

The strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanotubes with perovskite structure was incorporated utilizing hydrothermal synthesis approach were examined with their photo catalytic activity. The TiO2 nanoparticles employed in synthesis of SrTiO3 nanotubes were synthesized prior using Azadirachta indica leaf extract commonly termed as green synthesis. SrTiO3 nanotubes with bandgap of 3.25 eV (purest form of semiconductor) showed the much better photocurrent intensity was attributed to the more homogenous and nanotube formation with perovskite structure and greater surface area with maximum light retention property. The SrTiO3 nanotubes obtained at much lower temperature of 150°C were characterized by XRD, TEM, FESEM, EDAX and FTIR analysis. Herein, we report the strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanotubes as active photocatalyst and their kinetics study were performed for first order rate constant which confirmed the photodegradation of methylene blue dye in 90 min under UV light and 150 min under natural sunlight (visible) irradiation at ambient temperature.