Synthesis of Sm2(Wo4)3 Nanocrystals Via a Statistically Optimized Route and Their Photocatalytic Behavior Publisher



Pourmortazavi SM¹ ; Rahiminasrabadi M^{2, 3} ; Aghazadeh M⁴ ; Ganjali MR^{5, 6} ; Karimi MS⁷ ; Norouzi P^{5, 6}
Source: Materials Research Express Published:2017

Abstract

The application of aTaguchi approach to the optimization of the precipitation reaction between Sm3+ andWO4-2 as a rapid procedure for the preparation of Sm2(WO4)3 nanoparticles as aphotocatalyst isevaluated.The effect of the prominent operating factors on the product areevaluated so as to yield the best synthesis conditions, leading to the finest product particles of the desired morphologies,which can turn the rather primitive precipitation reaction into a powerful tool for the preparation of nanostructured crystals of insoluble salts.The effects of the alteration of the studied factors on the final properties of the product arefurther evaluated through characterization techniques, including x-ray diffraction, energydispersive x-ray analysis, scanning electronmicroscopy, transmissionelectronmicroscopy andFourier transforminfrared spectroscopy. The results of the study, together with the analysis of variance operations, revealed that through the control of samarium and tungstate concentrations, and temperature, considerable results can be achieved in terms of the product dimensions,morphology,purity and structure.Moreover, the photocatalytic behavior of the synthesized samarium tungstate nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradationofmethyleneblueunderultraviolet light is investigated andcomparedwith titaniumdioxide as awell-known photocatalyst. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.