Decolorization of RhB on three-dimensional porous CeO2/LaFeO3/SrTiO3 catalyst via photo-fenton-like catalysis

The catalysts with three-dimensional porous (3DP) CeO 2 , LaFeO 3 and SrTiO 3 are synthesized by sol–gel method and chemical precipitation method. The resulting multi-component 3DP CeO 2 /LaFeO 3 /SrTiO 3 composite material featured a high specific surface area (26.08 m 2 /g), which can provide more surface active sites to improve adsorption capacity and catalytic performance. The photocatalytic, Fenton-like, photo-Fenton-like performance of the catalyst are studied on decolorization of RhB under UV irradiation, respectively. 3DP CeO 2 /LaFeO 3 /SrTiO 3 exhibits high catalytic performance. Compared with photocatalytic or Fenton-like performance, 3DP CeO 2 /LaFeO 3 /SrTiO 3 catalyst exhibits higher photo-Fenton-like performance, facilitating efficient decolorization of the rhodamine B. Moreover, the initial reaction rate on decolorization of RhB with 3DP CeO 2 /LaFeO 3 /SrTiO 3 is 10.55, 5.52, 3.67 and 1.51 times higher than that with SrTiO 3 , LaFeO 3 , 3DP CeO 2 and 3DP CeO 2 /LaFeO 3 , respectively. Meanwhile, 3DP LaFeO 3 /CeO 2 /SrTiO 3 has a wider pH usage range in the synergistic reaction. Finally, a catalytic mechanism for the decolorization of rhodamine B is proposed. The continuous cycling of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ and Ce 4+ /Ce 3+ and the production of active substances are achieved under the photo-Fenton-like effect of the catalyst. Graphical abstract