Sintering Temperature Effects on Photocatalytic Activity of SrTi_0.80Mn_0.20O₃

Abstract

SStrontium titanate (STO) is well recognized as promising perovskite photocatalytic material. The catalytic characteristics of STO can be improved by modification with Mn metal. In this study, SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3 has been successfully fabricated using coprecipitation technique with varied sintering temperatures of 700°C, 800°C, 900°C, and 1000°C. This study aimed to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the photocatalytic activity of SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3. The photocatalyst activity of SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3 could be observed by the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) dye. Based on the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) data, the SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3 has been made. The data also showed that the impurities phases have been reduced and eliminated by the higher sintering temperatures. Nevertheless, all varied samples of the SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3 have successfully exhibited their photocatalyst activity by degrading the MB dye under UV light irradiation with irradiation times of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours. According to the UV-Vis absorption data, the irradiation time could considerably decline the absorption peaks of MB dye in SrTi0.80Mn0.20O3. Besides, the higher sintering temperature did not influence the absorption peaks position but slightly changed their intensity (at the same irradiation time). Furthermore, the higher sintering temperature and longer irradiation time tended to produce higher DR% of up to 66.63%.