Sol-gel synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of mixed oxide ZnO-Fe2O3

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 71 - 78
• Main Authors: HERNANDEZ, Aracely, MAYA, Lourdes, SANCHEZ-MORA, Enrique, SANCHEZ, Eduardo M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-04-2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cyanides; Differential thermal analysis; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Energy gap; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Heat treatment; Inorganic salts; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Photodegradation; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Potassium cyanide; Reflectance; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; X-ray diffraction; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; Characterization; Binary compound; Iron oxide; Synthesis; Sol gel process; Sol-gel Zinc oxide; Photocatalysis; Transition element compounds; Oxides; Zinc oxide; Cyanides; iron oxide . Photocatalysis Cyanides
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-006-1521-7

Synthesis by sol-gel method of mixed semiconductor ZnO-Fe2O3 was carried out using inorganic salts as precursors. The powders were synthesized at different pH (neutral and basic) in order to study its influence on the properties of the catalysts. These materials were characterized by thermal analysis TGA-DTA, X-ray Diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The specific surface area of the solids was calculated from nitrogen adsorption isotherms by BET method. The band gap energy (Eg) of the catalysts was obtained from it UV-Vis spectra (diffuse reflectance) when the crystalline phase was formed under thermal treatment at 350°C by 3 h. The incorporation of Fe2O3 to ZnO semiconductor gives as a result a lower Eg value for zinc oxide. Catalytic activity of the materials was evaluated using as test reaction the photocatalytic degradation of potassium cyanide in aqueous dissolution. The catalyst ZnO-Fe2O3 synthesized at pH 7 turned out to be superior than sol-gel and commercial ZnO under similar conditions.