Visible light photocatalytic and magnetic properties of V doped α-Fe2O3 (VFO) nanoparticles synthesized by polyol assisted hydrothermal method

Vanadium-doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (VFO nanoparticles) were prepared by polyol-assisted hydrothermal method. The impact on the structure, optical, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were studied by varying the vanadium concentration from 1 to 5%. XRD analysis confirms the presence of hematite phase with hexagonal structure and estimates the nanocrystals size as ∼26–38 nm. FESEM and TEM reveal the formation of 3D flower-like morphology bundled with 2D nanoflakes. The estimated band gap energy was in the range 2.01 eV–2.12 eV. XPS study shows the presence of vanadium in V4+ oxidation state in VFO nanoparticles. VSM study shows a non-saturated hysteresis loop with weak ferromagnetic behavior for all the VFO nanoparticles. 5% V doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (5%VFO nanoparticles) exhibited superior visible light driven photocatalytic activity compared to other samples. [Display omitted] •Vanadium doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by polyol-assisted hydrothermal method.•Influence of V doping on the magnetic properties and methylene blue dye degradation has been studied.•VFO nanoparticles exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior.•92% methylene blue dye degradation under visible light irradiation.