Single-crystalline alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} with hierarchical structures: Controllable synthesis, formation mechanism and photocatalytic properties

Journal Article · Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

OSTI ID:21370409

Jianmin, Gu; Siheng, Li ^[1]; Qiuyu, Li; Guoying, Sun; Rui, Xu; Hong, Zhang ^[1]

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1. Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate Science of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024 (China)

A dual iron precursors system in a hydrothermal process was developed for controllable fabrication of alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} hierarchical structures with different morphologies. Micro-pines, snowflakes and bundles were successfully synthesized simply by tuning the total concentration of the two iron precursors K{sub 4}[Fe(CN){sub 6}] and K{sub 3}[Fe(CN){sub 6}] and their molar ratio. The obtained alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} hierarchical structures were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The effect of experimental conditions on the morphologies of the alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} crystals was systematically investigated. A possible formation mechanism of different alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} hierarchical structures was proposed. Good photocatalytic properties were observed for all the hierarchical structures. - Graphical abstract: A dual iron precursors system in a hydrothermal process was developed for controllable fabrication of various alpha-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} hierarchical structures. Micro-pines, snowflakes and bundles were successfully fabricated by simply tuning the total concentration of the two iron precursors and their molar ratio. A possible formation mechanism of these structures was proposed.

• OSTI ID: 21370409
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 182, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2009.01.041; PII: S0022-4596(09)00032-2; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CATALYSIS
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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