α-Fe₂O₃/reduced graphene oxide nanorod as efficient photocatalyst for methylene blue degradation

Abstract

A series of α-Fe₂O₃/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanorod composites were successfully synthesised using a simple solvothermal process. The synthesised α-Fe₂O₃/RGO (FG) products were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The photocatalytic ability of the prepared FG composites was evaluated, by the demineralisation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The synthesised FG composites show higher degradation efficiency under visible light irradiation with improved photocatalytic performance than the pure α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod and degusa P25. The demineralisation of the dyes was visualised by a UV-visible spectroscopy, by decrease in the intensity of absorbance and concentration. The degradation efficiency of the FG1 composite towards MB was found to be 97%.

Keywords:

• Graphene
• Solvothermal
• α-Fe₂O₃/RGO
• Photocatalysis
• Methylene blue