Rod-on-flake α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite: Facile synthesis, characterization and enhanced photocatalytic performance

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 537; pp. 435 - 445
• Main Authors: Malathi, A., Arunachalam, Prabhakarn, Madhavan, J., Al-Mayouf, Abdullah M., Ghanem, Mohamed A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.01.2018
• Subjects: BiOI; energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; lighting; nanocomposites; Nanorods; Photocatalysis; photocatalysts; photoluminescence; photolysis; photostability; remediation; Rhodamine B; scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy; Visible light; wastewater treatment; X-ray diffraction; Visible light; Rhodamine B; Photocatalysis; BiOI; Nanorods
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.10.036

[Display omitted] •α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposites were synthesized successfully by wet impregnation method.•α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite exhibited greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity.•The mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic activity was discussed in detail. Herein, we have prepared different weight percentages of (10%, 20% and 30%) of α-FeOOH on BiOI visible light active α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite via facile wet impregnation method. The rod-like morphology of α-FeOOH and flake-like morphology of BiOI photocatalyst were fabricated via hydrothermal process. The synthesized photocatalyst were explored by different characterization methods such as FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDAX, HR-TEM and UV–vis DRS. The photocatalytic behavior was assessed by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light illumination. The optimum 10% α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite showed a superior photocatalytic activity than other photocatalysts. About 91% degradation of RhB was witnessed after 90min under illumination. Further, the photoluminescence (PL) and photoelectrochemical measurements revealed that the 10% α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite showing enhanced charge carrier separation than other photocatalysts. The superior photocatalytic activity and photostability revealed that the α-FeOOH/BiOI nanocomposite could be a promising material in wastewater treatment and other environmental remediation applications.