Template assisted fast photocatalytic degradation of azo dye using ferric oxide–gallia nanostructures

Abstract

Fe₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ nanostructures, containing various percentages of Fe₂O₃, were synthesized via a facile co-precipitation method without a template (route 1) and with glycoluril as a structure directing agent (route 2). For the samples prepared by both routes, the Fe₂O₃ content of the catalyst and the different morphologies had a remarkable effect on improving the photocatalytic activity. Despite equal phases, some differences were observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the samples synthesized by the two routes, and the differences together with other features improved the photo-degradation properties for the samples synthesized from route 2, i.e., in the presence of a template under the same conditions.