Fullerene [C60] modified Cr2−xFexO3 nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

• C60–Cr2−xFexO3 nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple absorbing process.
• C60–Cr2−xFexO3 shows obvious light absorption in the visible light region.
• 3%C60–Cr1.3Fe0.7O3 exhibits significantly photocatalytic activity.
• C60 can accelerate the photo-induced electron transfer of Cr2−xFexO3 composites.

C60 modified Cr2−xFexO3 nanostructure photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a simple absorbing process and employed in the photocatalytic H2 evolution. The as-prepared C60–Cr2−xFexO3 nanocomposites exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic H2 evolution without any noble metal. It is shown that the photoinduced electrons achieve high migration efficiency on the interface C60 and Cr2−xFexO3, which is generated by the intense interaction of C60 and Cr2−xFexO3 with conjugative three-dimensional π-system. A possible mechanism was proposed and supported by the PL emission spectrum technique and transient photocurrent responses.

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