Fabrication of hetero-structured mesoporours TiO2-SrTiO3 nanocomposite in presence of Gemini surfactant: Characterization and application in catalytic degradation of Acid Orange

In this research article, the mesoporous hetero-structured TiO2-SrTiO3 nanocomposite was synthesized using sol-gel method at different weight percentages (wt %) of Gemini surfactant (GS) by varying the Ti/Sr ratios ranging from (1 to 0.6/0.0 to 0.4). The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis DRS, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, XPS, TEM and BET surface area analyzer. The characterization results attributed that XRD patterns of catalyst exhibits the formation of both [001] facets of anatase TiO2 and SrTiO3 with a band gap of 2.75 eV; The frequency shift (FT-IR) was observed for GS which was encapsulated the composite; SEM, EDX and XPS results showed that a prominent change in surface morphology, presence of elements and their oxidation states, respectively. TEM and BET results indicated the decrease in particle size and increase in surface area of the catalyst which lead to the enhancement in photocatalytic degradation of Acid orange dye. The optimum conditions for efficient degradation of Acid Orange in visible light was achieved by changing the reaction parameters such as, effect of Ti/Sr ratio at different weight percentages of Gemini surfactant with respect to composite, effect of pH, effect of catalyst dosage and effect of initial concentration of dye.