Enhanced photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3/MgO nanocomposites for environmental sustainability

Abstract

The goal of this study is to identify the optical, magnetic, and structural properties of α-Fe2O3/MgO & MgO/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites and use them to purify water contaminated by harmful dyes. The economical hydrothermal approach was utilized to create nanocomposites, resulting in weight ratios of α-Fe2O3: MgO (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2). The synthesized materials containing α-Fe2O3 and MgO phases were identified by XRD pattern. XPS spectra were used to identify lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. The magnetic investigations show that pure α-Fe2O3 has a greater magnetic character than other synthesized materials, with a maximum magnetization of 0.14 × 10−2 emu/gm. In just 90 min, α-Fe2O3/MgO nanocomposites degrade Rose Bengal dye by 90.01 %, demonstrating their superior photocatalytic activity. The combined action of α-Fe2O3 and MgO, which prevents the formation of highly active radical species (OH• and O2• radicals) and photo-generated charge carrier recombination, is responsible for the increased photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the magnetic nature of these nanocomposites enables them for the reusability process.