Photodegradation of rhodamine 6G in aqueous solution via SrCrO4 and TiO2 nano-sphere mixed oxides

Nano-sphere TiO2 and SrCrO4 (up to 5 mol%) mixed oxides were synthesized by co-precipita- tion method and investigated as catalyst in the photodegradation of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) in aqueous solution. SrCrO4/TiO2 oxides were characterized by techniques of powdered X-ray diffraction, EDAX, BET, TEM, SEM and ESR analysis. The photocatalytic activities of degradation of dyes were measured by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the mixed oxides of TiO2 with 1 mole % of SrCrO4 (SCT1) exhibit a photocatalytic acti- vity 3 times higher than that of P25TiO2 for oxidation of various dyes (Rh6G, TB, MO and BG) under UV light irradiation (l > 280 nm). Among all these dyes the photodegradation of Rh6G was faster compared to other dyes. The average crystallite sizes, spherical particle sizes and grain sizes of SCT1 were found to be ~15 nm, 90 ± 5 nm and 100 ± 5 nm, respectively. The EPR spectrum of SCT1 indicated that the ejection of electron helped to degrade the dye molecule faster.