Effect of Co2+ doping on structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of La2CuO4 perovskite

In this article, structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of a series of Co2+ doped La2CuO4 perovskites, synthesized via sol–gel auto-combustion method, have been investigated for the first time. Structural and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) studies revealed pure orthorhombic phase formation with smaller crystallite sizes at higher Co2+ concentrations. Elemental composition was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies indicated the possible oxidation states of the constituent elements. The optical energy band gaps were estimated to be 1.31–1.04 eV, indicating the semiconducting nature and proper bandgap tuning with increased Co2+ content of the prepared perovskites. The highest photocatalytic methylene blue dye degradation efficiency, about 90%, was achieved for the 15% Co2+ doped La2CuO4 perovskite, indicating its potential use as a photocatalyst for environmental remediation.