One-dimensional mesoporous Fe2O3@TiO2 core-shell nanocomposites: Rational design, synthesis and application as high-performance photocatalyst in visible and UV light region

•1D porous Fe2O3@TiO2 core-shell composites are synthesized as high-performance photocatalyst.•Core-shell heterostructures result in the efficient electron-hole separation process.•Porous features and 1D core-shell structures are beneficial for the photocatalytic reaction.•The composites show excellent photocatalytic performance under UV and visible light irradiation.•Good thermal stability endows the composites with outstanding photocatalytic durability.

An ideal photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants should combine the features of efficient visible light response, fast electron transport, high electron-hole separation efficiency, and large specific surface area. However, these requirements usually cannot be achieved simultaneously in the present state-of-the-art research. In this work, we develop a rational synthesis strategy for the preparation of one-dimensional (1D) mesoporous Fe2O3@TiO2 core-shell composites. In this strategy, FeOOH nanorods are firstly coated by TiO2 shell, followed by a calcination process. The as-prepared composites are thoroughly investigated with X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-visible diffuse-reflectance spectra, and photoluminescence spectra. Endowed with the advantages of its composition and specific structural features, the presented sample possesses the combined advantages mentioned above, thus delivering evidently enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange under UV light irradiation and Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. And the possible mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic performance is proposed.