Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using Fe2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel method

Graphical abstract: Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye was successfully carried over Fe2O3/TiO2 nanorods embedded various proportion of Fe2O3 (0–20) wt.%. Highlights: ► Fe2O3/TiO2 nano mixed oxide samples were successfully synthesized by sol–gel method. ► Manipulation of particle size and structure were achieved by micelle template approach. ► Both adsorption and photocatalytic reactivity are the main reasons for exceptional decolorization of methylene blue dye. ► A new mechanism for electronic transition between TiO2 and Fe2O3 was proposed. -- Abstract: The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye was successfully carried under UV irradiation over Fe2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles embedded various composition of Fe2O3 (0–20) wt.% synthesized by sol–gel process. Structural and textural features of the mixed oxide samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction [XRD], Fourier transformer infra-red [FTIR], Energy dispersive X-ray [EDX], Field emission electron microscope [FESEM] and transmission electron microscope [TEM]. However, the optical features were estimated using UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The results reveal that the incorporation of various Fe2O3 up to 7% is associated by remarkable increase in surface area, reduction of particle size, stabilization of anatase phase, shifting the photoexcitation response of the sample to visible region and exceptional degradation of methylene blue dye. On the other hand, increasing Fe2O3 contents up to 20 wt.% is associated by anatase–rutile transformation, increasing in particle size and remarkable decrease in surface area which are prime factors in reducing the degradation process. The experimental results indicate that Fe2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles having both the advantages of photodegradation–adsorption process which considered a promising new photocatalysts that involve in the abatement of various organic pollutants