Synthesis, Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Activities of Wormlike GdFeO₃ Nanoparticles by a Glycol-Assisted Sol–Gel Process

Abstract

Wormlike GdFeO3 (GFO) nanoparticles were synthesized by a glycol-assisted sol–gel rapid calcination process. The as-synthesized GdFeO3 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity of GdFeO3 nanoparticles was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light. The synergism of semiconductor-photocatalyzed oxidation and heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like reaction can markedly promote the photodegradation with a booming catalytic activity (k = 1.2814 h–1). Compared with the bulk, the catalytic activity of the GFO–H2O2 system was improved about 80 times. Meanwhile, the glass carbon electrode decorated with the resulting nanoparticles was used to examine the electrocatalytic behavior for p-nitrophenol reduction in a basic solution. The results show the obtained GdFeO3 nanoparticles with excellent photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities.

Self-propagating combustion synthesis and synergistic photocatalytic activity of GdFeO3 nanoparticles

“…The inset of Fig. 3 shows that extrapolating the linear relation as (F(R)E) 2 = 0 gives the band-gap E g of approximately 2.53 and 2.13 eV for the sample and the bulk, respectively, which is quite comparable with other rare-earth orthoferrites [30,31]. The larger the band gap of the semiconductor, the stronger the redox ability of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs [32].…”

Synthesis of Titania Doped Copper Ferrite Photocatalyst and Its Photoactivity towards Methylene Blue Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation

“…Upon fulfilling this first thermodynamic requirement, the electrons at the valence band will be excited to the conduction band [8]. The liberation of electron from the valence band, leaving behind positively charged hole to react with the water molecules to generate hydroxyl radicals, •OH that is responsible to attack the organic pollutant [9]. Besides hydroxyl radicals, the reduction of the oxygen also produces radicals called superoxide anion, •O2 that is active towards the degradation of organic molecules.…”

A Series of Homo‐ and Heteroleptic Iron(III) Alkoxides as Precursors for Fe2O3

“…E.g., iron(III) alkoxides are promising catalysts for the polymerization of lactides . Furthermore, iron(III) alkoxides are used as precursors for synthesis of nano‐ and micro‐particles of defined size and shape , . Recently an iron(III) alkoxide was used in an ALD process to generate hematite and magnetite nanotubes …”

“…[4] Furthermore, iron(III) alkoxides are used as precursors for synthesis of nano-and micro-particles of defined size and shape. [5,6] Recently an iron(III) alkoxide was used in an ALD process to generate hematite and magnetite nanotubes. [3] Iron(III) alkoxides are known for a long time but their synthesis is still challenging due to their structural complexity resulting from the presence of oxo, alkoxide and alcohol ligands.…”

“…An approach to ferric tert-butoxide was provided by Mathur et al and Spandl et al, who suggested a salt metathesis reaction between ferric chloride and sodium tert-butoxide. [1,9] Adopting this to the reaction of ferric chloride with sodium methoxide or sodium ethoxide does not lead to the desired ferric alkoxides Fe(OR) 3 , but to the more complex oxo-alkoxides [Na 2 Fe 6 O(OMe) 18 (HOMe) 6 ] and [Fe 9 O 3 (OEt) 21 (EtOH)], respectively. [10,11] Due to the steric demand of the tert-butyl group, iron tert-butoxide could be isolated as [Fe(OtBu) 3 ] 2 .…”