| Abstract
| - Lanthanide (Ce, Pr, and Nd) molybdovanadates were synthesized by the solid-state method. These compoundscrystallize in the tetragonal space group I41/amd with a = b = 7.3750 (4) and c = 6.4867 (4) Å and Z = 4.The crystal structure has been analyzed by FTIR, UV−visible spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction.Particle sizes are in the range of 300−400 nm as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersiveX-ray analysis suggests the formation of Ln0.95Mo0.15V0.85O4 (Ln = Ce, Pr, and Nd) and the Rietveld refinementsof the powder X-ray data substantiate this observation. Thermal analysis of these solids shows stability of thephase up to 800 °C. These materials were investigated for photocatalytic activity by degrading different dyessuch as methylene blue(MB), orange G (OG), Rhodamine B (RB), Rhodamine Blue (RBL) Alizarine Red S(ARS), and Remazol brilliant blue (RBBR) under solar and UV irradiation since they exhibited lower bandgaps. The degradation rates for all the dyes show enhancement as compared to the commercial titania catalyst,Degussa P-25, both in UV and sunlight. These compounds degrade chlorinated phenols much faster thantitania, which indicates selectivity toward chloro substitution.
|
