Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic performance of uniform α-Fe2O3 nanocubes

In this paper, large scale uniform α-Fe2O3 nanocubes are synthesized through a facile and effective hydrothermal route. The structure and morphology of the resultant products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). A possible growth mechanism for α-Fe2O3 nanocubes is proposed based on the experimental results. Photocatalytic test reveals that Congo red can be degraded nearly completely (over 95%) after visible light irradiation of 40 min. In addition, methyl orange and methylene blue aqueous solution degradation experiments also are conducted in the same condition, revealing the versatile potential applications of the product in wastewater purifications.