Abstract：Sm doped K₄Nb₆O₁₇ photocatalysts were prepared by using KOH, Nb₂O₅ and Sm(NO₃)_3as starting materials through hydrothermal route. The crystalline and micro-structure of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction(XRD), scanning electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis(SEM-EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscope(HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) techniques. The results show that the crystallinity of K₄Nb₆O₁₇ increases with the introduction of Sm content. The Sm presents in the K₄Nb₆O₁₇ crystalline in the form of Sm₂O₃. The catalyst with a Sm/Nb molar ratio of 1% has the best performance for rhodamine degradation. The organic dye rhodamine(100 mL) with a concentration of 20 mg/L can be effectively degraded by 30 mg of catalyst in 80 min.

Keywords: potassium niobate; hydrothermal synthesis; photocatalytic activity