Self-assembled hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanotube arrays for photoelectrocatalytic degradation of azo dye under simulated solar light irradiation

  • Zhonghai Zhang
  • , Md Faruk Hossain
  • , Takakazu Takahashi*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

274 Scopus citations

Abstract

Self-assembly aligned hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanotube arrays (α-Fe2O3 NTs) were successfully prepared on the Fe foils by a simple two-step electrochemical anodization method in NH4F organic electrolyte. The α-Fe2O3 NTs electrodes were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorbance spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The resulting α-Fe2O3 NTs showed a pore diameter of 40 nm, thickness of 2 μm, and a minimum wall thickness of ∼10 nm. The systematic photoelectrochemical responses on the α-Fe2O3 NTs electrodes were presented. The maximum photoconversion efficiencies of 0.51% and 0.60% were collected at 0.3 V under illumination of visible light and simulated solar light (AM 1.5G), respectively. The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) and photocatalytic (PC) activities of the α-Fe2O3 NTs electrodes were evaluated by degradation of azo dye. The significant PEC and PC performance indicated that the α-Fe2O3 NTs electrodes were an effective photoelectrode under visible light and simulated solar light illumination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)423-429
Number of pages7
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume95
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Apr 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anodization
  • Hematite (α-FeO)
  • Nanotubes
  • Photoelectrocatalytic
  • Photoelectrochemical

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