Novel two-step vapor-phase synthesis of UV-Vis light active Fe^sub 2^O3/WO3 nanocomposites for phenol degradation

Supported Fe2O3/WO3 nanocomposites were fabricated by an original vapor phase approach, involving the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe2O3 on Ti sheets and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of WO3. Particular attention was dedicated to the control of the W/Fe ratio, in order to tail...

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Published inEnvironmental science and pollution research international Vol. 23; no. 20; p. 20350
Main Authors Barreca, Davide, Carraro, Giorgio, Gasparotto, Alberto, Maccato, Chiara, Sada, Cinzia, Bontempi, Elza, Brisotto, Mariangela, Pliekhova, Olena, Stangar, Urska Lavrencic
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2016
Subjects
Absorption spectroscopy
Chemical vapor deposition
Chemistry
Environmental monitoring
Environmental science
Laboratories
Mass spectrometry
Microscopy
Nanocomposites
Phenols
Photocatalysis
Photodegradation
Pollutants
Radiation
Radio frequency
Studies
Wastewater treatment
X-ray diffraction
X-ray spectroscopy
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Summary:Supported Fe2O3/WO3 nanocomposites were fabricated by an original vapor phase approach, involving the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe2O3 on Ti sheets and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of WO3. Particular attention was dedicated to the control of the W/Fe ratio, in order to tailor the composition of the resulting materials. The target systems were analyzed by the joint use of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and optical absorption spectroscopy. The results showed the uniform decoration of [alpha]-Fe2O3 (hematite) globular particles by tiny WO3 aggregates, whose content could be controlled by modulations of the sole sputtering time. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in the liquid phase was selected as a test reaction for a preliminary investigation of the system behavior in wastewater treatment applications. The system activity under both UV and Vis light illumination may open doors for further material optimization in view of real-world end-uses.
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-016-7226-8