Enhanced visible photocatalytic activity of hybrid Pt/α-Fe2O3 nanorods

alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods with highly defective surfaces were used as a support to further synthesize hybrid Pt/alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods. Transmission electron microscopy analyses suggest that Pt nanoparticles are selectively deposited on the surface defects such as edge-steps. Pt nanoparticles in metallic and electron deficient states, as well as the correlation between chemisorbed oxygen species and the peripheral Pt area, were revealed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra. The hybrid nanorods with an optimized amount of Pt nanoparticles and a large peripheral Pt area exhibit far better visible light photocatalytic activity for degrading methylene blue than alpha-Fe2O3.