Enhanced photo-Fenton degradation of tetracycline using TiO2-coated α-Fe2O3 core–shell heterojunction

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 68; pp. 14 - 23
• Main Authors: Zheng, Xiaogang, Fu, Wendi, Kang, Fuyan, Peng, Hao, Wen, Jing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.12.2018; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Cubic α-Fe2O3; Photo-Fenton degradation; Tetracycline; TiO2 coating; Well-matched interface; 화학공학; Cubic α-Fe2O3; Photo-Fenton degradation; Well-matched interface; TiO2 coating; Tetracycline
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2018.07.024

[Display omitted] •TiO2-coated cubic α-Fe2O3 mostly exposed (012) and (101) facets was fabricated.•TiO2 coating could greatly affect the photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3@TiO2.•The OH radicals were main responsible for photodegradation of tetracycline. TiO2-coated cubic α-Fe2O3 with mostly exposed (012) and (101) facets (α-Fe2O3@TiO2) was fabricated using a hydrothermal route for the photo-Fenton degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation. TiO2 coating could greatly affect the photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3@TiO2. Compared with cubic α-Fe2O3 alone for photodegradation of tetracycline, α-Fe2O3@TiO2 with TiO2 shell of around 15nm exhibited higher removal efficiency of tetracycline in photo-Fenton system, and its durability was slightly affected after five cycle times under same conditions. It is ascribed to the well-matched interface between cubic α-Fe2O3 core and TiO2 shell, leading to the broadened light-absorption and the efficient separation of photo-generated electon–hole pairs. The OH radicals were main responsible for the advanced photocatalytic performance of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 in visible-light driven degradation of tetracycline.