Hydrothermal Synthesis of LaCoO3 Perovskite Catalyst and Its Application for the Degradation of Phenol under Visible Light

In this study, a series of LaCoO3 perovskite catalysts with varying calcination temperatures were synthesized hydrothermally, and their structure, morphology, and optical properties were investigated using X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray electron spectroscopy analysis (XPS), Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS), and other characterization techniques. Using phenol as the target degradation product, the photocatalytic degradation reaction was carried out in the presence of visible light. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism of LaCoO3 perovskite was also discussed. The experimental results showed that the LaCoO3 perovskite catalyst has been prepared with good crystallization. The particle size of the catalysts ranged from 10 to 40 nm, and the specific surface area decreased with calcination depth. Moreover, all the LaCoO3 catalysts showed strong paramagnetism, and the particles were regularly agglomerated under the action of magnetic force. LaCoO3 catalyst (the calcination temperature of 750 °C) exhibited high photocatalytic activity. In addition, the study of photocatalytic mechanisms revealed three degradation pathways for degrading phenol into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O via highly active HO•, HO2•, and h+ radicals.