Tetragonal BaTiO3 nanoparticles: An efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants

Photocatalytically active cubic and tetragonal phase BaTiO3 nanoparticles have been prepared by polymeric complex method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry (UV-DRS). In addition, the morphology of BaTiO3 was investigated using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cubic and tetragonal phases of the prepared BaTiO3 were confirmed by XRD and Raman spectra. Methylene blue dye was used as a probe to evaluate the photocatalytic activities of cubic and tetragonal BaTiO3. This investigation revealed that BaTiO3 with tetragonal phase showed higher photocatalytic activity than that of the cubic BaTiO3. The photoluminescence result also supported the improved photocatalytic activity of tetragonal BaTiO3. However, a noticeable change in photocatalytic property could be observed on varying the amount of BaTiO3. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of tetragonal BaTiO3 makes it an excellent photocatalyst candidate for the degradation of pollutants.