Facile synthesis of a visible light α-Fe2O3/BiOBr composite with high photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Novel α-Fe₂O₃/BiOBr composites were synthesized by a simple in hydrolysis method for the first time, and were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The α-Fe₂O₃/BiOBr composite showed much higher visible-light-driven (VLD) photocatalytic activity than pure α-Fe₂O₃ and BiOBr for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Specifically, the 10Fe/100Bi composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation. The stability of the photocatalyst is found to be satisfying, which gives it potential in practical applications. The high photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the enhanced light absorption and the improved separation of photogenerated charge carriers, due to the formation of a p–n heterojunction between α-Fe₂O₃ and BiOBr.