Carbon/TiO2/Fe2O3 hybrid shells as efficient visible light photocatalysts

Abstract

Hybrid shells of Carbon/TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ (C/TiO₂/Fe₂O₃) were synthesized by sequentially coating TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ on polystyrene (PS) nanospheres through hydrolysis and hydrothermal procedures, followed by calcination in a N₂ atmosphere to crystallize TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ and carbonize PS. In comparison with TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ hollow spheres, C/TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ hybrid shells exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity, which was attributed to the effective light absorption and charge separation associated with the introduction of carbon.