title: Novel two-step vapor-phase synthesis of UV-Vis light active Fe2O3/WO3nanocomposites for phenol degradation.
abstract: Supported Fe2O3/WO3nanocomposites were fabricated by an original vapor phase approach, involving the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe2O3on Ti sheets and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of WO3. Particular attention was dedicated to the control of the W/Fe ratio, in order to tailor the composition of the resulting materials. The target systems were analyzed by the joint use of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and optical absorption spectroscopy. The results showed the uniform decoration of α-Fe2O3(hematite) globular particles by tiny WO3aggregates, whose content could be controlled by modulations of the sole sputtering time. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in the liquid phase was selected as a test reaction for a preliminary investigation of the system behavior in wastewater treatment applications. The system activity under both UV and Vis light illumination may open doors for further material optimization in view of real-world end-uses.
authors.affiliation: CNR-ICMATE, Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131, Padova, Italy. davide.barreca@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8779-3386
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maccato
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astonomy, Padova University and INSTM, 35131, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sada
authors.affiliation: Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Brescia University, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bontempi
authors.affiliation: Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Brescia University, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brisotto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Research, Nova Gorica University, 5001, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Olena
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pliekhova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Research, Nova Gorica University, 5001, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Urška Lavrenčič
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Štangar
mesh_terms: D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D011108:Polymers; C000499:ferric oxide; D019800:Phenol; C511604:tungsten oxide; D014414:Tungsten
keywords: Chemical vapor deposition; Fe2O3; Nanocomposites; Photocatalysis; Sputtering; WO3