Development of bifunctional SrTiO3/SrMoO4 heterojunction catalyst for efficient adsorption and photocatalytic performance evaluation

A new bifunctional heterojunction catalyst, SrTiO3/SrMoO4 was prepared using a hydrothermal method followed by a rigorous physical blending process. A thorough investigation of its performance in removing methylene blue and phenol contaminants was undertaken through both adsorption and photocatalytic approaches. The XRD analysis reveals the formation of a heterojunction composite material displaying exceptional crystalline properties. The investigation of the optoelectronic properties and phase composition of the synthesized catalysts was carried out employing UV–Vis-DRS, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, electron microscopy analysis of the catalysts unveiled a cuboid-like morphology with a uniform distribution of particle sizes. The XPS peak fitting of the constituent elements yielded valuable insights into the chemical composition and oxidation states of the atoms. The experimental results demonstrated a type II heterojunction at the SrTiO3/SrMoO4 interface, promoting substantial transfer of charge carriers across the junction while simultaneously reducing the recombination rate. The SrTiO3/SrMoO4 heterojunction catalyst exhibited excellent degradation efficiency and outstanding recyclability, with a degradation enhancement of 2-fold for MB dye and 4-fold for phenol compared to the pristine SrTiO3 counterpart. The current study presents an efficient catalytic system that offers a potential avenue for wastewater treatment.