Fe₂O₃ nanotube films prepared by anodisation as visible light photocatalytic

Abstract

Highly ordered Fe₂O₃ nanotube arrays have been fabricated by a simple and cost effective anodisation method on iron foils in an ethylene glycol solution containing NH₄F and H₂O. The Fe₂O₃ nanotube electrodes were characterised by field emission SEM, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and UV–vis absorbance spectra. The resulting Fe₂O₃ nanotube arrays showed a pore diameter of 50–70 nm and a minimum wall thickness of 20 nm. A band gap value of 2·04 eV was estimated for these Fe₂O₃ layers. The photocatalytic activity of the Fe₂O₃ nanotube films was determined by measuring the degradation of methylene blue under visible light to find out its potential application in waste water treatment. Results demonstrated that these Fe₂O₃ nanotube films possess good photocatalytic.

Keywords:

• Iron oxides
• Nanotubes
• Anodisation
• Visible light photocatalysis