The molten salt synthesis of ABi2Ta2O9 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) as photocatalyst material

The two-layer member of Aurivillius compound ABi2Ta2O9 (A= Ca, Sr, Ba) has been reported can be applied as photocatalyst material. In this research, the compound ABi2Ta2O9 (A= Ca, Sr, Ba) was synthesized using the molten salt method and measured photocatalytic activity to degrade methylene blue. Difractogram samples showed that the compound ABi2Ta2O9 (A= Ca, Sr, Ba) was successfully obtained but still found impurities on the samples. Micrograph samples showed that the particle morphology of ABi2Ta2O9 (A= Ca, Sr, Ba) was plate-like and found agglomeration in all particles. The calculation using the Kubelka-Munk equation exhibited that CABi2Ta2O9, SrBi2Ta2O9, BABi2Ta2O9 sequentially have bandgap energy of 3.51, 3.21, and 2.44 eV. The degradation test results of methylene blue solution show that CaBi 2Ta2O9, SrBi2Ta2O9, and BABi2Ta2O9 materials can degrade sequentially by 14.44, 24.23, and 15.99 % for 80 minutes.