Tube-like α-Fe2O3@Ag/AgCl heterostructure: controllable synthesis and enhanced plasmonic photocatalytic activity

Jun Liu; Wei Wu; Qingyong Tian; Shuanglei Yang; Lingling Sun; Xiangheng Xiao; Feng Ren; Changzhong Jiang; Vellaisamy A. L. Roy

doi:10.1039/C5RA10247B

Tube-like α-Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl heterostructure: controllable synthesis and enhanced plasmonic photocatalytic activity†

Jun Liu,^ab Wei Wu,*^abc Qingyong Tian,^ab Shuanglei Yang,^b Lingling Sun,^ab Xiangheng Xiao,*^a Feng Ren,^a Changzhong Jiang^a and Vellaisamy A. L. Roy*^c

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
E-mail: weiwu@whu.edu.cn, xxh@whu.edu.cn
Fax: +86-27-68778433
Tel: +86-27-68778529

^b Laboratory of Printable Functional Nanomaterials and Printed Electronics, School of Printing and Packaging, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China

^c Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
E-mail: val.roy@cityu.edu.hk

Abstract

Plasmonic photocatalysts coupled with semiconductors are one of the most popular combinations in environmental remediation applications. In this regard, a novel tube-like α-Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl hybrid structure is fabricated by anchoring Ag/AgCl hybrid nanoparticles on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ short nanotubes (SNTs) by a step-by-step strategy. Firstly, the monodispersed α-Fe₂O₃ SNTs have been synthesized via an anion-assisted hydrothermal process followed by the loading of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ SNTs through the classic silver mirror reaction mechanism. From in situ oxidation of Ag nanoparticles, the final product α-Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl heterostructures has been obtained. We study the morphology, composition, and photocatalytic properties of the as obtained tube-like α-Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl nano-heterostructures. The photocatalytic activities of as obtained photocatalysts have been tested by the degradation of organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight (UV + visible light), visible light and UV light irradiation. The main reason for the enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the broad spectral response from the combination of narrow/wide bandgap semiconductors with metallic Ag nanoparticles and efficient charge transfer from plasmon-excited Ag nanoparticles to α-Fe₂O₃ and AgCl. Finally, this hybrid structure provides a roadmap for the controlled synthesis of plasmonic photocatalysts with excellent properties, and can be used for practical application in environmental issues.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA10247B
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 30 May 2015
Accepted: 09 Jul 2015
First published: 09 Jul 2015

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RSC Adv., 2015,5, 61239-61248

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Tube-like α-Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl heterostructure: controllable synthesis and enhanced plasmonic photocatalytic activity

J. Liu, W. Wu, Q. Tian, S. Yang, L. Sun, X. Xiao, F. Ren, C. Jiang and V. A. L. Roy, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 61239 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA10247B

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