Investigation of photocatalytic and dielectric behavior of LaFeO₃ nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted sol–gel combustion route

LaFeO₃ (LFO) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave-assisted sol–gel combustion method with an aid of glycine as fuel. The calcined LFO sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDAX and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. Single-phase orthorhombic structure is confirmed by XRD, and data is well fitted using Rietveld refinement by Full-Prof suite. FTIR study displays vibrational modes related to orthoferrites perovskite LaFeO₃. SEM images depict fine particles size, and stoichiometry of La, Fe and O in LFO is verified by EDAX. The photodegradation behavior of LFO was evaluated by the photocatalytic decolorization of the methylene blue under natural light as well as by UV irradiation for different time. To check the potential of LaFeO₃ as dielectric, dielectric constant as a function of frequency and temperature was studied. Dielectric constant is found to decrease with increase in frequency indicates dispersive behavior in low-frequency region. Temperature versus dielectric constant plots for LFO at 100 kHz give dielectric anomaly around 450 °C. This anomaly may be due to antiferromagnetic transition (T _N) temperature of LFO. The present study depicts the potential of LFO to use as efficient photocatalyst and applicable dielectric materials.

Very good quality and single-phase LaFeO₃ (LFO) nanoparticles were prepared first time by microwave-assisted sol–gel combustion method with an aid of glycine as fuel. The photodegradation behavior of LFO was evaluated by the photocatalytic decolorization of the methylene blue (MB) under UV–visible light irradiation. Qualitative understating of correlation between photodegradation ability and dielectric behavior of LFO was established. The potential of LaFeO₃ as efficient photocatalyst and dielectric materials is investigated in the present study.