Tunable synthesis of core-shell α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ composite nanoparticles and their visible-light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Uniform α-Fe₂O₃/amorphous TiO₂ core-shell nanocomposites were prepared via a hydrolysis method and α-Fe₂O₃/anatase TiO₂ core-shell nanocomposites were obtained via a post-calcination process. The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles with diameters of ten to several tens nanometer were formed on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the coverage density of the secondary TiO₂ nanoparticles in the composite can be controlled by varying the concentration of Ti(BuO)₄ in the ethanol solution. The visible-light photocatalytic properties of different products towards Rhodamine B(RhB) were investigated. The results show that the α-Fe₂O₃/amorphous TiO₂ exhibits a good photocatalytic property owing to the extension of the light response range to visible light and the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes between α-Fe₂O₃ and amorphous TiO₂.

Keywords

α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ / Core-shell nanostructure / Photocatalytic activity / Rhodamine B

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