Hematite iron oxide nanorod patterning inside COK-12 mesochannels as an efficient visible light photocatalyst. Issue 39 (4th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wee, L. H.; Meledina, M.; Turner, S.; Custers, K.; Kerkhofs, S.; van Tendeloo, G.; Martens, J. A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 39(2015)
• Page Start: 19884
• Page End: 19891
• Publication Date: 2015-09-04
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ta05075h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Three-dimensional visualization of hematite iron oxide nanorod patterning inside hexagonally ordered mesochannels of COK-12 by electron tomography. Abstract : The uniform dispersion of functional oxide nanoparticles inside ordered mesoporous silica to tailor optical, electronic, and magnetic properties for biomedical and environmental applications is a scientific challenge. Herein, we demonstrate for the very first time the morphological effect of platelet-driven confined growth of hematite iron oxide (α-Fe2 O3 ) nanorods inside the mesochannels of ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 material denoted as α-Fe2 O3 @COK-12. The inclusion of the α-Fe2 O3 nanorods in COK-12 particles is studied in detail using high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and electron tomography. High resolution imaging and EDX spectroscopy provide information about the particle size, shape and crystal phase of the loaded α-Fe2 O3 material, while electron tomography provides detailed information on the spreading of the nanorods throughout the COK-12 host in three-dimension. This nanocomposite material, having a semiconductor band gap energy of 2.50 eV according to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, demonstrates an improved visible light photocatalytic degradation activity with rhodamine 6G and 1-adamantanol model compounds.