PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF STRONTIUM FERRITE, Sr1-xMxFeO3, BY CO-PRECIPITATION METHOD DOPED WITH Na+ AND K+

ABSTRACT The Perovskite, Sr 1-X M X FeO 3 (x = 0.10 and x = 0.20), was prepared using Fe(NO 3 ) 2 .9H 2 O and Sr(NO 3 ) 2 by coprecipitation method doped with various amounts of Na and K. The materials were annealed at 500 o C, 700 o C and 800 o C in Muffle Furnace. The synthesized samples were characterized using PXRD that showed a distortion in the crystallite hexagonal structure. TGA of the samples showed weight loss as temperature increased from 300-500 o C attributed to decomposition due to K 2 O, with oxidative and thermal stabilities obtained at 500 o C and above. The DTA depicted endothermic activities indicating desorption and vapourization in the synthesis. SEM of the samples showed the morphological topography. Photocatalysis was carried out at pH 6.8 using methylene blue as mordant dye both in the presence and absence of H 2 O 2 with K-doped sample, Sr 0.8 K 0.2 FeO 3 , at 800 o C showed the highest photodegradation KEYWORDS; Coprecipitation, Furnace, Methylene blue, Doping, H 2 O 2