Fabrication of Au@α-Fe2O3 particles with an enhanced visible-light photocatalysis activity

Abstract

Au nanoparticles deposited α-Fe2O3 (Au@α-Fe2O3) particles with a well-defined structure were fabricated by the hydrothermal and the magnetron sputtering methods. After deposited 4.6% Au, Au@α-Fe2O3 shows a new absorption peak at 550 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum, and its bandgap narrows from 2.20 to 1.93 eV. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity and electrochemical impedance of 4.6% Au@α-Fe2O3 decrease significantly, while the photocurrent increases from 0.20 to 0.56 μA cm−2. Au nanoparticles extend the visible-light absorption performance and inhibit the recombination of electron-hole pairs of Au@α-Fe2O3 particles. The photocatalytic property of Au@α-Fe2O3 particles becomes more stable, and the photocatalytic efficiency of Au@α-Fe2O3 particles is about 1 time higher than that of α-Fe2O3 particles.