Efficient photodegradation activity of α-Fe2O3/Fe2TiO5/TiO2 and Fe2TiO5/TiO2 nanocomposites synthesized from natural ilmenite

Abstract

Photocatalysis is an attractive widely used environmental remediation technique. Ternary (α-Fe2O3/Fe2TiO5/TiO2) and binary (Fe2TiO5/TiO2) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by using natural ilmenite sand as the raw material. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic analytical techniques. Both nanocomposites were catalytically active for the photodegradation of methylene blue upon irradiation by a light source (LED and sunlight). The visible light absorption of both composites was improved by the presence of Fe2TiO5 and α-Fe2O3 which absorb in the visible. The ternary nanocomposite with type II band alignments was more active than the binary nanocomposite with type I band alignment in the visible light exposure. Under sunlight exposure, binary nanocomposites were more active than the ternary nanocomposites. Band alignment, percentage of TiO2 in the composites and the proper formation of the structure of the composites govern the photocatalytic activity. OH● is suggested as the main species responsible for the photodegradation of methylene blue.