Photocatalytic behavior of strontium aluminates co-doped with europium and dysprosium synthesized by hydrothermal reaction in degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

Strontium aluminates co-doped with europium and dysprosium were prepared by a hydrothermal reaction through a sintering process at lower temperatures. The physicochemical properties of the strontium aluminates co-doped with europium and dysprosium were characterized and compared with those of strontium aluminates prepared by a sol–gel method. The photocatalytic properties of the strontium aluminates co-doped with europium and dysprosium were evaluated through the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue dye. The strontium aluminates co-doped with europium and dysprosium prepared by the hydrothermal reaction exhibited good phosphorescence and photocatalytic activities that were similar to those prepared by the sol–gel method. The photocatalytic activity of these catalysts for methylene blue degradation was higher than that of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst.