Preparation of Fe₂O₃/TiO₂/graphene oxide composite as visible light-driven photocatalytic in degradation of rhodamine B dyes

Ternary Fe₂O₃/TiO₂/Graphene oxide composite material has been synthesized. Fe₂O₃ was obtained from Glagah (Indonesia) iron sand by hydrometallurgy method. While, GO was obtained from graphite flakes by modified Hummer method. Fe₂O₃/TiO₂/GO (FTG) composites were synthesized by sonochemical and hydrothermal method. The effect of GO addition into Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ (FT) composites on the physical and chemical properties were investigated using FTIR, XRD, SEM and UV-vis Spectrophotometer. The XRD pattern shows the appearance of anatase and hematite phase corresponds to TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ after calcinated at 600 °C. SEM image shows that Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ particles spreads on GO layer. The interaction of Fe-O-C and Ti-O-C band (450 cm⁻¹) can be known from FTIR spectra. Then, the performance and stability of FTG composite also have been investigated. (paper)