Visible light catalysis of rhodamine B using nanostructured Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films

The Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) composite films are deposited using spray pyrolysis method onto glass and FTO coated substrates. The structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films are studied. XRD analysis confirms that films are polycrystalline with rhombohedral and tetragonal crystal structures for Fe2O3 and TiO(2) respectively. The photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of Rhrodamine B (Rh B) in aqueous medium. The rate constant (-k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of species. Substantial reduction in concentrations of organic species was observed from COD and TOC analysis. Photocatalytic degradation effect is relatively higher in case of the TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) than TiO(2) and Fe(2)O(3) thin film photoelectrodes in the degradation of Rh B and 98% removal efficiency of Rh B is obtained after 20min. The photocatalytic experimental results indicate that TiO(2)/α-Fe(2)O(3) photoelectrode is promising material for removing of water pollutants.