Pyrite nanotube array films as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue and phenol

Ang Tian; Quan Xu; Xiaoguo Shi; He Yang; Xiangxin Xue; Junhua You; Xiaoqiang Wang; Chenbo Dong; Xin Yan; Hongjun Zhou

doi:10.1039/C5RA07434G

Pyrite nanotube array films as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue and phenol†

Ang Tian,‡*^a Quan Xu,‡^b Xiaoguo Shi,^a He Yang,^a Xiangxin Xue,*^a Junhua You,^c Xiaoqiang Wang,^d Chenbo Dong,^e Xin Yan^b and Hongjun Zhou^b

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* Corresponding authors

^a Institute of Metallurgical Resources and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
E-mail: Tiana@smm.neu.edu.cn, Xuexx@smm.neu.edu.cn

^b Institute of New Energy, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

^c School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, 111 Shenliao West Road, Economic & Technological Development Zone, 110178 Shenyang, China

^d School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao Branch, Qinhuangdao, P. R. China

^e Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA

Abstract

Pyrite crystal is used as a potential catalyst for the degradation of pollutants or removing waste gas in environmental engineering. However, the traditional pyrite synthetic process could lead to intermediate phases during formation of pyrite, such as FeS or Fe_1−xS, hurting the purity of the products. In this study, pure FeS₂ nanotubes with a stoichiometric ratio were fabricated by vulcanizing the precursor nanotubes. The photocatalytic activity of nanotubes was investigated via decomposing methylene blue and phenol. The results indicated that the oxidation of pyrite affected the photocatalytic activity of pyrite nanotubes slightly. Comparing with the pyrite piled microparticle coating and the hematite nanotube coating, the visible light driven catalytic activity of the pyrite nanotube coating was derived from increased production of hydroxyl radicals. The topography of the nanotube array contributed to the generation of the photoinduced hole⁺ and separation of the e⁻/hole⁺ pairs, eventually enhanced photocatalysis performance. In addition, Fe₂O₃ nanotubes can decompose MB effectively, however, hardly degrade phenol. This work offers insight to develop transition metal based semiconductor photocatalysts for environmental and energy utilization.

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Pyrite nanotube array films as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue and phenol†

Abstract

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Pyrite nanotube array films as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue and phenol

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