Visible light catalysis of rhodamine B using nanostructured Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films.
The Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) composite films are deposited using spray pyrolysis method onto glass and FTO coated substrates. The structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films are studied. XRD analysis confirms that films are polycrystalline with rhombohedral and tetragonal crystal structures for Fe2O3 and TiO(2) respectively. The photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of Rhrodamine B (Rh B) in aqueous medium. The rate constant (-k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of species. Substantial reduction in concentrations of organic species was observed from COD and TOC analysis. Photocatalytic degradation effect is relatively higher in case of the TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) than TiO(2) and Fe(2)O(3) thin film photoelectrodes in the degradation of Rh B and 98% removal efficiency of Rh B is obtained after 20min. The photocatalytic experimental results indicate that TiO(2)/α-Fe(2)O(3) photoelectrode is promising material for removing of water pollutants.
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
M A
MA
Mahadik
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
S S
SS
Shinde
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
V S
VS
Mohite
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
S S
SS
Kumbhar
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
A V
AV
Moholkar
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India.
K Y
KY
Rajpure
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore 452017, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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V
Ganesan
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore 452017, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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J
Nayak
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore 452017, Madhya Pradesh, India.
S R
SR
Barman
Electrochemical Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, MS, India. Electronic address: chbhosale@gmail.com.
C H
CH
Bhosale
D002384:Catalysis; D004566:Electrodes; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D012235:Rhodamines; C009495:titanium dioxide; C000499:ferric oxide; D014025:Titanium; C029773:rhodamine B
Photocatalysis; Rhodamine B; TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films