Visible light photocatalytic properties of SmFeO3 powders prepared via carbon adsorption co-precipitation method

SmFeO3powders were synthesized by carbon adsorption co-precipitation method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by TG-DTA analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis absorption spectra and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of SmFeO3 powders was investigated under visible light irradiation of dysprosium lamp with methyl orange (MO) as the target pollutant. The results show that SmFeO3 powders are obtained with less agglomeration, small particle size and uniform distribution due to the addition of carbon black. The absorption wavelength of SmFeO3 shifts toward the long wavelength and the absorption intensity of SmFeO3 enhances in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The degradation rate of SmFeO3 powder prepared by carbon adsorption co-precipitation method reaches 82% within 60 min, which is 2.6 times of samples synthesized by precipitation method. The photocatalytic effects are significantly enhanced.