Synergistic improved piezocatalytic performance of surface group functioned and heterovalently doped barium titanate nanoparticles

In piezoelectric catalysis, the surface-bound charges induced by the piezoelectric effect will affect the effectiveness of piezoelectric catalytic reactions. BaTiO3 nanoparticles in this study were prepared by solvent improved hydrothermal method with surface modified and heterovalent La3+ ion doping, and piezoelectric catalytic activity was evaluated toward dye reactants under ultrasonic vibration. Due to La doping, the quantity of Ba vacancies in BaTiO3 will increase, resulting in a greater response of charge carriers under ultrasonic irradiation. Meanwhile, due to surface modification, carboxyl groups will be applied to the surface of BaTiO3 nanoparticles, resulting in a decrease in particle size with increased specific surface area. The adsorption of carboxyl groups on the surface can also enhance the ability of BaTiO3 nanoparticles to capture organic dyes. Due to the synergistic effect of heterovalent ion doping and surface modification, BaTiO3 nanoparticles achieved a high voltage electrocatalytic reaction rate constant of 0.054 min−1 and a degradation efficiency of > 90