A strategy to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of α-Fe2O3

S P Keerthana; R Yuvakkumar; G Ravi; P Kumar; Mohamed Soliman Elshikh; Hussein H Alkhamis; Abdulwahed F Alrefaei; Dhayalan Velauthapillai

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129498

A strategy to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of α-Fe₂O₃

Chemosphere. 2021 May:270:129498. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129498. Epub 2021 Jan 2.

Authors

S P Keerthana¹, R Yuvakkumar², G Ravi³, P Kumar⁴, Mohamed Soliman Elshikh⁵, Hussein H Alkhamis⁵, Abdulwahed F Alrefaei⁶, Dhayalan Velauthapillai⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
² Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: yuvakkumarr@alagappauniversity.ac.in.
³ Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: raviganesa@rediffmail.com.
⁴ Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630003, India.
⁵ Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Faculty of Engineering and Science, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, 5063, Norway. Electronic address: dhayalan.Velauthapillai@hvl.no.

PMID: 33422995
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129498

Abstract

The photocatalytic dye degradation of pure α-Fe₂O₃ and different concentration of Co doped α-Fe₂O₃ is explored. Facile hydrothermal method were employed to prepare pristine, 2% and 4% Co-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Further, synthesized product confirmation studies were employed from X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope studies. The rhombohedral nanoparticles developed were enhanced photocatalytic action. Photocatalytic dye degradation studies were analyzed for prepared three samples and the photocatalytic efficacy of the obtained photocatalysts was compared experimentally. Methylene blue dye was degraded under UV-light irradiation with 364 nm. The results showed that 4% Co doped α-Fe₂O₃ sample exhibited better dye degradation with 92% efficiency. The 4% doping of cobalt ions enhanced the photocatalytic property of Fe₂O₃ and is a good candidate for methylene blue dye degradation above 90%. In addition, strategy for photocatalytic efficiency enhancement was proposed.

Keywords: Co Doping; Degradation; Fe(2)O(3); Methylene blue; Photocatalyst; Rhombohedral.

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Methylene Blue*
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nanoparticles*
Ultraviolet Rays
X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

Methylene Blue