Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical studies of visible-light active α-Fe2O3-g-C3N4 nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocrystalline hematite iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were prepared and used as precursors to synthesise α-Fe2O3-g-C 3N4 composite photocatalysts of various compositions by a wet impregnation method. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The efficiency of the photocatalysts was evaluated by photoelectrochemical measurements and photodegradation of direct red 81 (DR81) as a target textile pollutant under visible light irradiation. The α-Fe2O3-g-C3N 4 compo..