Template-free synthesis of mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers with short charge-carrier diffuse distance for superior photocatalysis

Abstract

In this work, well-shaped monodisperse mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers were prepared by a facile template-free solvothermal route. The α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers with size of ~80 nm composed of nanobranches with width of ~10 nm. Contributed by the short charge-carrier diffuse distance of thin branches, the as-prepared mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers possess notably higher phtotocatalytic activity in comparison with non-porous samples, commercial α-Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ by a model organic dye degradation reaction of Rhodamine B. The kinetic constant of mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers for Rhodamine B degradation is about twice that of the non-porous materials and 10 times that of commercial α-Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst. Therefore, a simple method is developed to access the highly active mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoflowers, and the as-prepared material is potential to be used in photocatalysis or solar energy harvest.

Keywords:

• Template-free
• haematite
• photocatalytic activity
• Rhodamine B