Goethite hierarchical nanostructures: Glucose-assisted synthesis, chemical conversion into hematite with excellent photocatalytic properties

► An original and facile method based on a forced hydrolysis-oxidation of iron (II) salts in the presence of d-(+)-glucose. ► The microstructure evolution of goethite (α-FeOOH) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) hierarchical nanostructures (HNSs). ► The investigation of the formation mechanism of the HNSs. ► The analysis of the photocatalytic performance for the α-Fe2O3 HNSs.