Zn doping of the strontium germanate and photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet

Abstract

Zn doped strontium germanate has been prepared by the hydrothermal method using strontium acetate, germanium dioxide and zinc acetate as the raw materials. The Zn doped strontium germanate were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and solid UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. The structures of Zn doped strontium germanate were confirmed to be hexagonal SrGeO3 and rhombohedral ZnGeO3 phases. The band gap of Zn doped strontium germante decreases from 3.67 eV to 2.88 eV with the change of the Zn doping mass percentage. The photocatalytic activity of the Zn doped strontium germanate has been evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet under UV light irradiation. The results reveal that the Zn doped strontium germanate has the enhanced photocatalytic activity.