Photoelectrocatalytic activity of immobilized Fe2O3 photoelectrode for degradation of salicylic acid and methyl orange dye under visible light illumination

Abstract

Fe2O3 thin films have been successfully synthesized by chemical spray pyrolysis technique. The effect of solution quantities onto the photoelectrochemical (PEC), structural, morphological, and optical properties has been studied. Film prepared at 50 ml solution quantity shows the maximum photoelectrochemical performance in 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the synthesized Fe2O3 thin films are polycrystalline with rhombohedral crystal structure. The surface morphology of Fe2O3 thin films shows that needle-shaped grains have slowly converted into round-shaped grains. The estimated band gap energy of Fe2O3 films varies from 2.02 to 2.15 eV with respect to quantities of spraying solution and it exhibits absorption in visible region. The photoelectrocatalytic degradation process shows better removal efficiency of organic compounds as compared to photocatalytic process for degradation of salicylic acid (SA) using large area (100 cm2) Fe2O3 photoelectrode under visible light illumination. Further, photoelectrocatalytic degradation process have been employed for degradation of colorant organic compound such as methyl orange (MO) dye.