Preparation and visible-light photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3/γ-Fe2O3 magnetic heterophase photocatalyst

Magnetic heterophase photocatalyst of alpha-Fe2O3/gamma-Fe2O3 nanorods was prepared by a facile thermal decomposition and redox method. The nanorods were about 100 nm in length and 20 nm in diameter, and well-structured heterophase junctions were formed between alpha-Fe2O3 and gamma-Fe2O3. Visible-light induced photodegradation of model dye rhodamine B was investigated by using the as-prepared alpha Fe2O3/gamma-Fe2O3 nanorods. The material exhibits a remarkably enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity than the single-phase alpha-Fe2O3 or gamma-Fe2O3 owing to its well-structured interfaces and suitable band configuration. The existence of magnetic gamma-Fe2O3 facilitates the practical application of photocatalysts. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.