A novel visible-light-sensitive strontium carbonate photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity

A novel visible-light-sensitive strontium carbonate photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity was prepared from strontium hydroxide by calcination in air at moderate temperature. The SrCO3 photocatalyst was characterized by UV–vis diffuse reflection spectrum, X-ray powder diffraction and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of methyl blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). The results show that the photodegradation efficiency of MB on the SrCO3 catalyst reached 98.2% after irradiation for 180 min, which is much higher than that of commercial TiO2 (P25). Effects of heat treatment on the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst SrCO3 were also investigated.