High photocatalytic activity of Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ nanocomposites prepared by photodeposition for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

• Shu Chin Lee,
• Hendrik O. Lintang and
• Leny Yuliati

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 915–926, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.93

• stability and reusability, suggesting its potential for water purification applications. Keywords: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; Fe2O3/TiO2; herbicide degradation; heterojunction; holes and superoxide radicals; photocatalyst; photodeposition; water purification; Introduction Photocatalytic reactions

• study, both impregnation and photodeposition methods were used to modify TiO2 nanoparticles with Fe2O3 in order to investigate the effect of preparation method on the properties and photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites with respect to the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D

• -dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under UV light irradiation was examined. The Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by impregnation showed lower activity than the unmodified TiO2, mainly due to lower specific surface area caused by heat treatment. On the other hand, the Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by