Photocatalytic Degradation of Congo Red Using PbTiO 3 Nanorods Synthesized via a Sonochemical Approach

Abstract Lead titania (PbTiO 3 ) possessing nanorods morphology was synthesized through facile and straightforward sonochemical approach using titanium tetraisopropoxide and lead nitrate as a starting material followed by annealing at 700 °C for 2 h and was utilized as an efficient photocatalyst to examine the degradation of Congo red dye (CR) under visible light. The as‐synthesized PbTiO 3 nanorods were characterized by physical‐chemical methods such as phase identification, morphology, Chemical composition, and elemental analysis. To study the effect of PbTiO 3 nanorods on dye degradation, various experimental parameters such as photocatalyst dosage, pH, and initial dye concentration was optimized. About 92% dye was degraded at pH 6 in the existence of PbTiO 3 nanorods under visible light. To know the mineralization of Congo red in the presence of sonochemically synthesized PbTiO 3 nanorods, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal studies carried out and it shows about 46% Congo red can be totally abated in 150 min under visible light.