Nanostructured mesoporous g-Fe2O3: a novel photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants

A.B Hrubiak,V.V Moklyak,B.K Ostafiychuk,Yu.V Yavorskyi,B.B Onyskiv,R.P Lisovsky,O.Yu Khyzhun,L.G Keush

doi:10.15330/pcss.22.1.101-109

Abstract

The modified sol-gel synthesis technique was used to created of nanostructured maghemite (γ-Fe2O3). It has been shown that the molar concentration of the original precursors during synthesis affects on the average particle sizes, specific surface area, pore size distributions, optical and conductivity properties. The XPS metod allowed to establish features of electronic structure of the synthesized materials. Optimal conditions for the synthesis of nanostructured maghemite with mesoporous structure were selected. The mechanism of electrical conductivity formation for synthesized mesoporous materials was established. The width of the band gap is determined and its dependence on the molar concentration of precursors is established. The positive correlation between the specific surface area of γ-Fe2O3 samples and photocatalytic activity was installed - the photocatalytic activity of synthesized γ-Fe2O3 increase with growth of specific surface area of γ-Fe2O3 samples.

Highlights

Nanostructured iron oxides using in various fields of modern science and medicine due to its unique physicochemical properties, which are clearly manifested in the nanoscale state [1,2,3,4]
We have demonstrated a simple, reproducible and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of nanostuctured mesoporous -Fe2O3
The sol-gel approach of nanostructured -Fe2O3 synthesis with different precursor’s molarity, which has permitted to obtain the materials with mesoporous structure was proposed

Summary

Introduction

Nanostructured iron oxides using in various fields of modern science and medicine due to its unique physicochemical properties, which are clearly manifested in the nanoscale state [1,2,3,4]. The efficiency of a functional material using in each sphere depends on phase compositions, particles sizes, porous structure, etc. These factors have vast influence onto physical and chemical properties of material. The improving of synthesis methods of nanodispersed -Fe2O3 open new opportunities to obtaining of novel materials. In this context, lately, there have been increasing reports of the use of iron oxide as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for wastewater treatment. Iron oxide has advantages over titanium dioxide it exhibits the same performance as TiO2 but has a simpler and ecological synthesis process.

Methods

Results

Conclusion