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Size and shape controlled of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared via sol–gel technique and their photocatalytic activity

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials with surface modification for applications
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Abstract

Haematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes and morphologies were prepared from two different iron precursors (iron acetate (A) and iron nitrate (N)) using the sol–gel technique, through a reaction with oxalic acid. A pure α-Fe2O3 phase (rhombohedral) that contained particles of different sizes and shapes were obtained from both iron precursors. Transmission electron microscope measurements showed average sizes of 23 ± 2 and 30 ± 2 nm for α-Fe2O3 (A) and α-Fe2O3 (N) formed NPs, respectively. The observed uniform spherical shape for the α-Fe2O3 (A) formed NPs is due to the presence of carboxylic acid (acetic acid) used to control the nucleation and growth process of α-Fe2O3 NPs. However, quasi-spherical particle shapes for α-Fe2O3 (N) were produced in the presence of a mineral acid (nitric acid), which caused the particles to be constrained during their growth step. However, the optical analysis showed that the band gaps of α-Fe2O3 (A) and α-Fe2O3 (N) as 2.63 and 2.60 eV were found, respectively. The surface area results exhibited that both α-Fe2O3 NPs were a porous material with a higher area for α-Fe2O3 (A), which resulted from the uniform shape and smaller size of particles. The magnetic properties were observed to be slightly different for both α-Fe2O3 NPs, which were also attributed to the different particle size of the NPs. Higher photocatalytic activity for congo red dye and 4-chlorophenol degradation under sunlight was achieved by α-Fe2O3 (A), which was attributed to the smaller size and higher surface area compared to α-Fe2O3 (N) NPs.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was made possible by NPRP grant # [5-1425-2-607] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation) and ICONIC-2013-002 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Also, one of the authors (Muneer M. Ba-Abbad) is grateful to the Hadhramout University of Science & Technology, Yemen, for its financial support for his PhD study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, 43600, Malaysia

    Muneer M. Ba-Abbad, Mohd S. Takriff & Abdul Wahab Mohammad

  2. Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, 43600, Malaysia

    Muneer M. Ba-Abbad, Mohd S. Takriff & Abdul Wahab Mohammad

  3. Gas Processing Centre (GPC), Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar

    Abdelbaki Benamor

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Petroleum, Hadhramout University of Science & Technology, Mukalla, Hadhramout, Yemen

    Muneer M. Ba-Abbad

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  1. Muneer M. Ba-Abbad
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Correspondence to Muneer M. Ba-Abbad.

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Ba-Abbad, M.M., Takriff, M.S., Benamor, A. et al. Size and shape controlled of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared via sol–gel technique and their photocatalytic activity. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 81, 880–893 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4228-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4228-4

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