BiOCl/α-Fe2O3 composite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of gaseous styrene

Abstract

• The BiOCl loaded on hematite were synthesized through hydrolysis method. • BiOCl and hematite presented a nice photocatalytic synergic action. • BiOCl/α-Fe 2 O 3 had a favorable catalytic performance on remove of styrene. BiOCl/α-Fe 2 O 3 nanomaterial composite photocatalyst was synthesized by hydrolysis method and it was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV–VIS reflection spectrometer (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N 2 adsorption–desorption measurement (BET), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS). The effects of composite catalyst on styrene degradation under UV irradiation at 365 nm under different preparation conditions were discussed. The results showed that the composite catalyst had good catalytic performance for the degradation of gaseous styrene. When BiOCl/α-Fe 2 O 3 mass ratio was 1:1, hydrolysis temperature was 50 °C, and solution pH was 1, the degradation rate of styrene with 150 mg/m 3 was 73.1% and mineralization rate reached 63.1% after irradiation with 365 nm UV light for 80 min. Photocatalytic degradation of styrene by composite catalysts was mainly caused by photoelectron-hole and oxygen-derived superoxide radical.