Synergistic photocatalytic activity of LaFeO3/TiO2 nanocomposites for methylene blue degradation under UV Light

LaFeO3, TiO2 NPs, and LaFeO3/TiO2 NCs were successfully synthesized and tested for the photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue dye in water under UV light. XRD analyses confirmed that pure LaFeO3 and TiO2 NPs exhibit orthorhombic and rutile phases, respectively. The LaFeO3/TiO2 composite demonstrates the coexistence of both LaFeO3 and TiO2 phases without any additional peaks. Morphological investigation revealed spherical NPs, with the average particle size of LaFeO3, TiO2, and LaFeO3/TiO2 being approximately 60 nm. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of LaFeO3/TiO2 NCs show a notable shift compared to those of TiO2 and LaFeO3 NPs. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated based on the degradation of MB in aqueous solutions under 180 min of UV light irradiation. Compared to LaFeO3 NPs, LaFeO3/TiO2 NCs exhibit enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under UV light. Additionally, LaFeO3/TiO2 NCs demonstrate excellent stability and recyclability, maintaining a removal efficiency of 93.5% even after five cycles.