Fabrication, characterization, and photocatalytic property of alpha-Fe2O3/graphene oxide composite

Abstract

Spindle-shaped microstructure of alpha-Fe2O3 was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The alpha-Fe2O3/graphene oxide (GO) composites was prepared using a modified Hummers’ strategy. The properties of the samples were systematically investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy (Raman) techniques. GO nanosheets act as supporting materials for anchoring the alpha-Fe2O3 particles. The average crystallite sizes of the alpha-Fe2O3 and alpha-Fe2O3/GO samples are ca. 27 and 24 nm, respectively. The possible growth of alpha-Fe2O3onto GO layers led to a higher absorbance capacity for visible light by a-Fe2O3/GO than alpha-Fe2O3 composite. The photocatalytic degradation of toluene over the alpha-Fe2O3 and alpha-Fe2O3/GO samples under xenon-lamp irradiation was comparatively studied by in situ FTIR technique. The results indicate that the alpha-Fe2O3/GO sample synthesized exhibited a higher capacity for the degradation of toluene. The composite of alpha-Fe2O3/GO could be promisingly applied in photo-driven air purification.