Effect of Nb doping on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of SrTiO₃ nanopowder synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion technique

Metal oxide photocatalyst is a promising wastewater treatment process due to its simplicity, high efficiency, and low cost, as well being environmentally friendly non-energy consuming. The perovskite structure material, SrTi1?xNbxO3 (STNO) with x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, was successfully synthesized by the sol-gel auto-combustion method. Samples pure phase cubic were obtained. Rietveld refinement results showed that lattice parameter unit cell density increased Nb-doping level increased. particle size of STNO decreases increasing Nb doping content. Photoluminescence excited at 327 nm, producing violet, green, blue emissions, while content asserts an insignificant effect on bandgap (Eg). Nyquist plot Mott-Schottky analysis used determine photoelectrode performance samples. photocatalytic activity decolorization methylene (MB) under UV irradiation optimization corresponding obtained from photoluminescence, Eg, plot, analyses.