Preparation and Enhanced UV-Visible Light Photoelectrocatalytic Activity of TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu Ternary Nanocomposites

Abstract

Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu nanomaterials were synthesized by hydrothermal methods. The crystal structure and chemical valence of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The results show that the TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized and have good UV-Vis absorption properties. The electrocatalytic properties of the samples were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectra(EIS) and Tafel polarization curve (Taf). The TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu nanocomposites have the highest cathode potential and current density, and the charge transfer resistance in EIS is TiO 2 > Fe 2 O 3 > TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 > TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu. It is indicated that TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu nanocomposites had good electrocatalytic properties. Finally, the photocatalytic properties of Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) were studied under UV-vis irradiation. The results show that the reaction rate constants k of TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu is the relatively highest(12.91×10 −3 min −1 ), indicating the synthetic of TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu have good photocatalytic properties, which are due to the highest light utilization of TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 /Cu and the best charge transfer performance.