Enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies over A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/silica fiber composites

Novel A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/silica fiber (SF) composites were prepared via a facile and efficient carbon nanofibers (CNFs) template-assisted alcohol-thermal route. The resulting samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) apparatus, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Furthermore, their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Compared with powder LaFeO3, the obtained A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/SF composites showed enhanced degradation efficiencies to MB dyes under the identical conditions. Good stability was also observed in the cyclic runs for the degradation of MB. The enhanced photocatalytic performance should be relent with the following two factors: 1) the unique morphology and structure of A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/SF composites, and 2) the contribution of the secondary element doping either in A- or B-sites of LaFeO3/SF. The synthetic procedure is simple and could be applicable to other efficient and inexpensive photocatalytic materials.