The production of highly efficient visible‐light‐driven electrospun α‐Fe2O3 photocatalyst through modifying iron source material for wastewater treatment applications

• Published in: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society (Taipei) 2023-07, Vol.70 (7), p.1510-1520
• Main Authors: Alp, Emre, Borazan, İsmail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Dyes; Electrospinning; Ferric chloride; Ferric oxide; Grain size; Hematite; heterogeneous photocatalysis; Iron; Morphology; Nanofibers; nanomaterials; Optimization; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Pollutants; porous nanofibers; Room temperature; Semiconductor materials; Shape control; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0009-4536; 2192-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/jccs.202300157

Background Heterogeneous photocatalysis has been considered one of the most attractive methods in the wastewater remediation process due to allowing continuous re‐use, the reactions taking place at room temperature, and photocatalysts are inexpensive. Objective With the optimization of the structural properties of hematite at the nanometer level by utilizing engineering strategies such as morphology regulation, and shape control, it is possible to enhance its photocatalytic performance. The study's main objective is to improve photocatalytic performances of visible‐light photoactive hematite materials produced by engineering strategies. Methods The α‐Fe2O3 photocatalyst fibres with highly porous were fabricated by electrospinning method, allowing extraordinary length, a large ratio of length to diameter, hierarchically porous structure, high surface area, small grain sizes, and high porosity. Results In the heterogeneous photocatalysis of the electrospun α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers against two model dyes representing anionic (MO) and cationic (RhB) characteristics, both electrospun α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers showed good photocatalytic activity against used model pollutants. The α‐ α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers produced using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate exhibited a higher photocatalytic degradation rate against both dye pollutants relative to the α‐ α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers produced using iron(III) chloride. Conclusions Depending on the used iron sources and associatively their final morphological characteristics, it was observed that their photocatalytic degradation performances were seriously affected. It is suggested that electrospun α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers, especially those with highly porous and smaller diameters, are suitable candidates as a visible‐light‐driven semiconductor material to use in advanced oxidation processes for removing pollutants from wastewater. The visible‐driven α‐Fe2O3 nanofibers with a highly porous structure were fabricated by electrospinning the PAN/metal composite nanofibers, followed by calcination at 500°C for 2 h. Depending on the used iron sources and, associatively, their final morphological characteristics, their photocatalytic degradation performances were seriously affected.