Fe2O3–TiO2 core–shell nanorod arrays for visible light photocatalytic applications

Abstract

By using the glancing angle deposition technique and post-deposition annealing, Fe 2 O 3-TiO 2 core-shell nanorod arrays with specific crystalline states can be designed and fabricated. The Fe 2 O 3-TiO 2 core-shell samples annealed at temperatures greater than 450°C formed α-Fe 2 O 3 and anatase TiO 2 , and showed higher catalytic efficiency for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light illumination when compared with pure anatase TiO 2 or α-Fe 2 O 3 nanorod arrays. Solar conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the presence of Fe 2 O 3-TiO 2 coreshell nanorod arrays was also investigated. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and methanol along with other hydrocarbons were produced after only several hours' exposure under ambient

Simultaneous enhanced electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of α-Fe2O3/graphene by hydrogen annealing

“…Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) is one of the most typical n-type semiconductor materials. According to its relatively high theoretical capacitance, variable oxidation states, the rich natural reserves, suitable working window, non-toxic, and narrow band-gap (2.1 eV), etc [6,[13][14][15], it is generally considered to have broad prospects in thermoelectricity, photoelectricity, energy storage, catalytic degradation and other fields [16][17][18][19][20][21]. Especially in energy storage, Fe 2 O 3 has a broad application prospect as an anode material.…”

Photocatalytic upgrading α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by incorporating MoS2/rGO nanosheets

“…Among the various types of metal oxide semiconductors, hematite has shown to be an ideal candidate for many optical applications like heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and chemicals owing to its chemical inertness, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and stable nature [1][2][3][4]. As a well-known phenomenon, heterogeneous photocatalysis is light-induced generation of electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor material that is recognized as a promising strategy to easy, fast and cheap destructiondeactivation of organic pollutants [3,5].…”

“…As a well-known phenomenon, heterogeneous photocatalysis is light-induced generation of electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor material that is recognized as a promising strategy to easy, fast and cheap destructiondeactivation of organic pollutants [3,5]. Effective use of electron-hole pairs is a key factor in rapid degradation of organic pollutants but the determinant step in the process is recombination of electrons and holes causing the weakening of the photocatalytic activity of many common semiconducting metal oxides [2][3][4]. Thus, in recent years, various approaches have been proposed to strengthen the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors, including the increase of external surface area, surface/morphology modification or creating structural defects [1,2,[6][7][8].…”

“…Effective use of electron-hole pairs is a key factor in rapid degradation of organic pollutants but the determinant step in the process is recombination of electrons and holes causing the weakening of the photocatalytic activity of many common semiconducting metal oxides [2][3][4]. Thus, in recent years, various approaches have been proposed to strengthen the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors, including the increase of external surface area, surface/morphology modification or creating structural defects [1,2,[6][7][8]. Among them, modifying the surface of metal oxide semiconductors using noble metals such as platinum and palladium is one of the most successful methods to boost the photocatalytic activity.…”

The evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of magnetic and non-magnetic polymorphs of Fe 2 O 3 in natural sunlight exposure: A comparison of photocatalytic activity

“…Recently, based on the development of pure, composite and core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, the reported studies on the retrieval of the photocatalyst from the reaction medium have achieved considerable attention for environmental remediation [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. A score of studies are available in the literature where α-Fe 2 O 3 has been used in combination with other photocatalysts such as TiO 2 [39][40][41], ZnO [42,43], SiO 2 [44] etc., for enhancing the photocatalytic activity in the visible region of the spectrum. Although γ-Fe 2 O 3 has been used by a number of researchers as magnetic support in an effort to make the existing photocatalysts magnetically retrievable [45][46][47][48][49], however, not investigated in detail for its own photocatalytic activity in sunlight exposure.…”