Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Using SnO2/α‐Fe2O3 Hierarchical Nanoheterostructures. Issue 2 (18th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Shouwei; Li, Jiaxing; Niu, Haihong; Xu, Wenqing; Xu, Jinzhang; Hu, Wenping; Wang, Xiangke
• Is Part Of: ChemPlusChem. Volume 78:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2012-12-18
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201200272
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-6506

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Three‐dimensional SnO<sub>2</sub>/α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> semiconductor hierarchical nanoheterostructures were synthesized for photocatalysis through a low‐cost and environmentally friendly hydrothermal strategy, by crystallographic‐oriented epitaxial growth of SnO<sub>2</sub> on three‐dimensional α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flowerlike hierarchical nanostructures. In this photocatalyst, visible‐light‐active Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flowerlike hierarchical nanostructures were used as a medium to absorb photons and convert them into photogenerated charges, and SnO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles were used as charge collectors to transport the photogenerated charges. The SnO<sub>2</sub>/α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> semiconductor hierarchical nanoheterostructures exhibited excellent visible‐light photocatalytic ability for the degradation of methylene blue; this was attributed to the large specific surface area, wide visible‐light absorption range, and efficient electron–hole pair separation properties of the SnO<sub>2</sub>/α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoheterostructures. The SnO<sub>2</sub>/α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> material showed improved separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs owing to the potential‐energy differences between SnO<sub>2</sub> and α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, and therefore exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity. This paper highlights the SnO<sub>2</sub>/α‐Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> semiconductor hierarchical nanoheterostructures as potentially more environmentally friendly materials for use in organic pollutant degradation for environmental pollution cleanup operations.</p> </abstract>