Single step combustion synthesis of novel Fe2TiO5/α-Fe2O3/TiO2 ternary photocatalyst with combined double type-II cascade charge migration processes and efficient photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalytic route is an attractive approach to mitigate environmental and energy crisis. Herein, a new ternary Fe2TiO5/α-Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst was fabricated by using a single-step combustion synthesis approach. Structures of the nanocomposite were characterized with various analytical techniques. The used fuels and calcination temperatures during the combustion synthesis processes were found to strongly affect the phase and morphology of the nanocomposite. The ternary photocatalyst displays significant visible light absorption, improved charge carrier separation and excellent photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light illumination in photocatalytic methylene blue degradation and water reduction. The OH and O2− radicals were identified spectroscopically as the reactive radicals. A double type-II and cascade mode of charge migration across different components in the ternary Fe2TiO5/α-Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalyst was proposed. This study provides a rational and scalable single step synthesis of ternary composite material with excellent stability and simulated solar light induced photocatalytic activity.