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A conjugated composite of α-Fe2O3 and BiOBr with enhanced visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity.

Authors :
Zheng, Yu
Li, Chunhu
Meng, Xiangchao
Zhang, Zisheng
Source :
Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemistry. Sep2016, Vol. 421, p16-28. 13p.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Owing to its nontoxic property, low cost and narrow band gap, alpha-iron(III) oxide (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) is a promising material as photocatalyst. However, it has shortcomings such as quick recombination and a short lifetime of the electron-hole pairs, which directly reduce the photocatalytic efficiency of α-Fe 2 O 3 and hinder its wide applications. In this study, a facile hydrothermal method was used to incorporate BiOBr with α-Fe 2 O 3 in an attempt to overcome the previously mentioned limitations of α-Fe 2 O 3 , and the synthesized composites were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–vis diffuse-reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The BiOBr/α-Fe 2 O 3 composite showed much higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than the pure α-Fe 2 O 3 and BiOBr for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Specifically, the composite synthesized at 100 °C for 18 h with a mass ratio of BiOBr to α-Fe 2 O 3 5:10 performed the best. This work also explored the chemical mechanism and pathway of RhB degradation, and the roles of the oxidative species with the presence of BiOBr/α-Fe 2 O 3 composites in the photocatalytic oxidation process, including holes (h + ), hydroxyl radicals ( OH), and superoxide radicals ( O 2 − ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13811169
Volume :
421
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemistry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
116404848
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2016.05.004