Synthesis of α-Fe2O3 rhombus nanoplates for photocatalytic investigation of cationic and anionic dyes and antibacterial aspect

Abstract

In the present investigation, Hematite rhombus nanoplates (α-Fe2O3-RNPs) were synthesized from Ferric chloride salts by hydrothermal method. The α-Fe2O3-RNPs were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, UV-visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The photocatalytic response was confirmed via the degrading of two different pollutant dyes such as cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic methylene orange (MO). The degradation was performed under diverse optimizing specifications of process variables. The response time, catalyst amount, dye initial concentration, and recyclability showed versatile effects during dye degradation. The α-Fe2O3-RNPs hold potent antibacterial activity against P. acne and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). Based on the results, the hydrothermal method is feasible and facile for the synthesis of α-Fe2O3-RNPs for photocatalytic and antibacterial activity.