Photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue using Fe2O3/TiO2 composite ceramics

• Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalytic composite ceramic was fabricated.
• Sintering temperature affects its photocatalytic and physical properties.
• Photocatalytic performance was studied under UV and visible light.
• Optimized ceramic showed good photocatalytic activity in ternary circles.

Using home-made Fe2O3/TiO2 nanopowders as raw material, Fe2O3/TiO2 composite ceramic was fabricated in order to use as photocatalysts in practical water purification treatment. The effects of sintering temperature on its phase variation, physical properties and photocatalytic properties were investigated. With sintering temperature increases, the anatase TiO2 transforms into rutile phase, and reacts with hematite Fe2O3 to form pseudobrookite Fe2TiO5. Above 800 °C, only Fe2TiO5 and rutile TiO2 were observed. Correspondingly, the porosity and the photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3/TiO2 composite ceramic decreased, especially for samples sintered at 1000 °C, obvious decline in degradation efficiency was observed. The further investigation on photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue (MB) were carried out using ceramics sintered at 880 °C (TFC-880), which exhibited moderate physical and photocatalytical properties. The result showed that TFC-880 exhibited a high photodegradation capability for MB under either UV or visible light. Even in the third circle, it also showed a high degradation rate, meaning it has an extended application such as water treatment.

This figure shows the cycling photocatalytic performance of 45 wt.% Fe2O3/TiO2 composite ceramic using MB as pollutant. It can be seen that Fe2O3/TiO2 ceramic exhibited a high photodegradation capability for MB under either UV or visible light, the degradation rate could arrive to 83% and 88%. Even in the third circle, the degradation rate also contained at 67% and 78%, meaning it has an extended application such as water treatment.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide