Issue 42, 2013

Core–shell structured α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic activity in the visible light region

Abstract

The core–shell structured Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites prepared via a heteroepitaxial growth route using the Fe2O3 spindle as a hard template display improved photocatalytic degradation activity for Rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation. The ratio of α-Fe2O3 : TiO2 in the α-Fe2O3@TiO2 core–shell nanocomposites can be tuned by etching the α-Fe2O3 core via controlling the concentration of HCl and etching time. An appropriate concentration of the Fe2O3 core could effectively induce a transition of the optical response from the UV to the visible region and decrease the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and the holes of the core–shell structured catalyst, greatly contributing to the enhancement of visible light response and visible light photocatalytic activity of the Fe2O3@TiO2 catalysts. It is revealed that the optical response and photocatalytic performance of the core–shell α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites can be tuned by adjusting the molar ratio of Fe2O3 : TiO2 of the α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites. The α-Fe2O3@TiO2 core–shell nanocomposite with an optimal molar ratio of 7% for Fe2O3 : TiO2 exhibits the best photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. It is shown that the Fe2O3/TiO2 heterojunction structure is responsible for the efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity. As the concentration of Fe2O3 is high, Fe3+ ions will act as recombination centres of the photogenerated electrons and holes. The present core–shell Fe2O3@TiO2 nanoparticles displaying enhanced photodegradation activity could find potential applications as photocatalysts for the abatement of various organic pollutants.

Graphical abstract: Core–shell structured α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic activity in the visible light region

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Jul 2013
Accepted
13 Sep 2013
First published
16 Sep 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 18627-18634

Core–shell structured α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic activity in the visible light region

Y. Xia and L. Yin, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 18627 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP53178C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements