Facile fabrication of porous flower-like α-Fe2O3 microspheres and their applications for water treatment. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Y. J.; Xu, C. J.; Chen, H. Y.; Nie, D.; Liu, Y. Q.
• Is Part Of: Materials research innovations. Volume 19:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 280
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: α-Fe2O3, -- Flower-like microstructure, -- Ethylenediamine, -- Waste water treatment; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1179/1433075X14Y.0000000245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1432-8917

Abstract

Abstract : Flower-like α-Fe2 O3 microspheres with an average diameter of about 1.5 μm were successfully synthesised with the assistance of ethylenediamine (EDA) through a facile high temperature solution method in ethylene glycol (EG) solvent. The morphologies and microstructure of the samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction techniques. It was found that the size and morphology of the products were greatly influenced by the amount of EDA, EG and refluxing time, and a possible growth mechanism of such flower-like shape was proposed based on the controlled experiments. Because of the high specific surface area and porous structure, the α-Fe2 O3 microflowers showed excellent adsorption performances with maximum removal capacities of 212 mg g −1 for Congo red in waste water treatment. The samples obtained from controlled experiments were also tested for the adsorption capacities, and the comparative dates were displayed distinctly. The prepared porous α-Fe2 O3 spheres might have promising application in water treatment including the adsorption for toxic metal ions and the photocatalytic degradation.