Influence of DETA on the structure and photocatalytic activity of Sm(OH)3 nanocrystallites prepared by hydrothermal process

•DETA was proposed to use as an alkaline agent to prepare Sm(OH)3 nanocrystallites.•Size–controlled Sm(OH)3 nanorods were achieved by adjusting the addition of DETA.•Size–related photocatalytic activity of Sm(OH)3 nanocrystallites was shown.•The photocatalysis degradation reaction kinetics of RhB was researched.

Size–controlled samarium hydroxide (Sm(OH)3) nanocrystallites were prepared by a facile hydrothermal process using diethylenetriamine (DETA) as both alkaline and complexing agents. The phase composition, surface groups, morphologies, specific surface area and optical properties of the samples were characterized by X–ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, N2–sorption BET surface area and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Results show that with the increase of DETA addition, the average length of the Sm(OH)3 nanorods was decreased. Sm(OH)3 nanorods prepared at 0.66 vol% of DETA shows high photocatalytic activity to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB), which degradation efficiency reaches 90.3% under UV irradiation for 40 min. The big specific surface area of Sm(OH)3 nanorods are believed to greatly affect the final degradation efficiency of RhB in our research.

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