Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3/ZnO and Fe3O4/ZnO

Composite Iron oxide-Zinc oxide (α-Fe2O3/ZnO and Fe3O4/ZnO) was synthesized by two step method. In the first step, uniform α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 particles were prepared through a hydrolysis process of ferric chloride at 80°C. In the second step, the ZnO particles were included in the α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 particles by a zinc acetate [Zn(Ac)2·2H2O] assisted hydrothermal method at low temperature (90 °C). X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) was used to study its structural properties. The α-Fe2O3 and ZnO phases were identified by XRD, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The photoactivities of α-Fe2O3/ZnO and Fe3O4/ZnO nanoparticles under UV irradiation were quantified by the degradation of formaldehyde. The determination of magnetic property was also carried out by Gouy balance method.