Improved photocatalytic water oxidation with Fe3+/Fe2+ redox on rectangular-shaped WO3 particles with specifically exposed crystal faces via hydrothermal synthesis

Abstract

Rectangular WO3 particles with selectively exposed faces were prepared via hydrothermal reaction and employed as O2-evolving photocatalyst in the presence of Fe3+ electron acceptor. The prepared WO3 photocatalyst showed a higher rate and selectivity for O2 evolution than other commercial ones even with decreased Fe3+ and increased Fe2+ concentrations, certainly attributable to the unique adsorption property of the exposed faces.