SrTiO3-based perovskites: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity in gas–solid regime under simulated solar irradiation

• SrTiO3-based perovskites doped by Y and/or Co have been prepared.
• Perovskites photocatalytic activity was tested for 2-propanol and propene oxidation.
• The photoreactivity was influenced by the presence of Y and/or Co.
• The presence of Y displays a beneficial effect on the 2-propanol photodegradation.
• The presence of Co favours the photocatalytic partial oxidation of propene to propene oxide.

Strontium titanate-based perovskites have been prepared in the presence of Y and Co with the aim to substitute Sr and Ti, respectively, in the ST crystalline structure. The obtained samples have been characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, XPS and tested as photocatalysts in two gas–solid regime reactions: (i) 2-propanol complete mineralization and (ii) propene partial oxidation, using a system simulating solar irradiation. All the tested samples resulted active as photocatalysts but with significant differences. The lattice substitution of Sr by Y displays a beneficial effect on the 2-propanol photodegradation. Conversely, the partial presence of cobalt on the ST surface, as Co-oxide nanodispersed clusters with a dominant Co(II) phase, plays a substantial detrimental effect on the photo-degradation process of 2-propanol, but favours the photocatalytic partial oxidation of propene to propene oxide.

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