MICROWAVE-HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOCATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF Cr-DOPED SrTiO3 POWDERS

The synthesis of Cr-doped SrTiO3 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.1) was performed by the microwave-hydrothermal method. The fast synthesis of SrTi0.96Cr0.04O3 pure phase powders was achieved at 200 degrees C for 30 min. It was observed that chromium entered into the solid solution within the SrTiO3 lattice as was demonstrated from the XRD and Raman analyses. The mean crystal size of the synthesised powders was close to 60 nm as determined by XRD analysis and confirmed by the TEM images. The specific surface was measured and the values range from 27 +/- 2.8 to 37 +/- 3.7 m(2).g(-1). The photocatalytic properties were evaluated for the hydrogen evolution from the methanol solution. The best performance was observed for x = 0.04, for which one of the highest surface areas was obtained (34 m(2).g(-1)) among the investigated compositions.