Microwave assisted sol gel synthesis of Fe2O3@TiO2 core–shell nanocomposite for the enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light and the investigation of their optical properties

• Published in: Advanced powder technology : the international journal of the Society of Powder Technology, Japan Japan, 2024-12, Vol.35 (12), p.104714, Article 104714
• Main Authors: Obaidullah, Md, Bahadur, Newaz Mohammed, Al Nahid, Md. Abdullah, Siddiquey, Iqbal Ahmed, Furusawa, Takeshi, Sato, Masahide, Suzuki, Noboru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Core-shell nanocomposites; Microwave irradiation; Nano-catalyst; Photocatalytic activity; Sol-gel method
• ISSN: 0921-8831
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2024.104714

[Display omitted] •Rapid synthesis of Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites by microwave assisted sol–gel method.•Comprehensive characterization using FTIR, DRS, TEM, SEM, XRD, and XPS techniques.•Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light.•Magnetization enables easy separation of catalysts after photocatalytic tests. Core-shell nanocomposites (NCs) of Fe2O3@TiO2 were synthesized using a microwave assisted sol–gel method in a relatively short time. These NCs were characterized using several techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The TEM images showed the formation of a ∼ 4.2 nm TiO2 layer around the spherical Fe2O3 core particles. The presence of Ti 2p peaks in both the wide and narrow scan XPS spectra, along with the distinct diffraction peak in the XRD patterns, confirmed the successful synthesis of Fe2O3@TiO2 NCs. Vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis showed that the NCs exhibited sufficient magnetization for catalyst separation after photocatalytic tests. The photocatalytic performance of the Fe2O3@TiO2 NCs was compared with that of uncoated Fe2O3 nanoparticles for methylene blue degradation under visible light.