Improved photocatalytic activities of recyclable porous Fe2O3 nanotubes by modifying with nano-sized SiO2 and g-C3N4 for degrading 2-chlorophenol. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: E, Wenyu; Dou, Tianwei; Zhu, Yangyang; Liu, Jingqiang; Jing, Liqiang
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 142(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Porous α-Fe2O3 nanotubes -- Phase separation electrospinning -- g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 S-scheme nanocomposite -- Charge transfer and separation -- Photocatalytic degradation; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2021.111416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Highlights: High-activity porous α-Fe2 O3 nanotubes are synthesized by a phase separation electrospinning process. The photoactivity is further improved by introducing SiO2 and then coupling g-C3 N4 with good recyclability. Improved photoactivity is attributed to increased surface area and promoted Z-scheme charge transfer. Optimized nanotubes exhibit ~ 4-time activity improvement compared with the reported nanoparticles. Abstract: It is highly desired to fabricate efficient α-Fe2 O3 -based photocatalysts with recyclable feature for pollutants degradation. Herein, porous α-Fe2 O3 nanotubes with high photocatalytic activity for degrading 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) have been successfully synthesized by a phase separation electrospinning process, with a pipe diameter of about 200 nm . The photoactivity is greatly improved by in-situ introducing SiO2, attributed to the increased surface area by decreasing the size of nanoparticles shell from ~ 30 to 15 nm. Furthermore, the photoactivity of SiO2 modified α-Fe2 O3 is further improved by coupling with porous g-C3 N4 nanosheets, ascribed to the promoted charge separation by the newly accepted S-scheme charge transfer mainly based on the EPR tests and photocurrent action spectra. Interestingly, the optimized α-Fe2 O3 -based nanotubes exhibit ~ 4-time improvement of the kinetic rate constant in 2-CP degradation compared with the reported α-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles, with good recyclability by self-sediment. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract