Preparation, characterization and catalytic performance of SrTi0.9Li0.1O3 ultrafine powders

SrTi0.9Li0.1O3 ultra-fine perovskite oxide powders were prepared by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique and sol–gel method, respectively. We investigated the physical properties (i.e. crystalline phase and the microstructure) of the prepared powders using XRD, PSD, SEM and TEM techniques and also evaluated the catalytic performance of the resulting powders to the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). By adding NH4NO3 into the precursor solution, uniform, solid and spherical SrTi0.9Li0.1O3 particles with a diameter of around 500 nm and the single perovskite crystal phase can be obtained at 900 °C. The resulting SrTi0.9Li0.1O3 ultrafine power prepared by the spray pyrolysis exhibited a much better catalytic performance (higher C2 selectivity and C2 yield) to OCM than that prepared by the sol–gel method.