Photocatalytic upgrading α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by incorporating MoS2/rGO nanosheets

Abstract

α-Fe2O3/MoS2/rGO nanocomposites was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDS, FTIR, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The results confirmed the formation of α-Fe2O3/MoS2-rGO (10 wt%) nanocomposites were composed of hematite nanoparticles with particle size of 30 nm and MoS2/rGO composite nanosheets with maximum sheet thickness of ∼ 10 nm. Upon addition of MoS2-rGO (8.0 wt%) nanosheets, the band gap of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles decreased from 2.3 to 1.7 eV that was accompanied by light absorption enhancement. Owing to synergetic effect between rGO and MoS2 nanosheets leading to suppression of charge carrier recombination, prolongation of charge carrier lifetime, improvement of the interfacial charge transfer and increase in the number of active sites in α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, as-synthesized α-Fe2O3/MoS2-rGO (10 wt%) nanocomposites nanocomposite showed highly enhanced photocatalytic performance for Rh B degradation under light irradiation so that complete degradation of Rh B organic dye was achieved within 30 min.