Fabrication and characterization of novel iodine doped hollow and mesoporous hematite (FeO) particles derived from sol-gel method and their photocatalytic performances.

In this work, iodine (I) doped hollow and mesoporous FeO photocatalyst particles were fabricated for the first time through sol-gel method. Phase structure, surface morphology, particle size, specific surface area and optical band gap of the synthesized FeO photocatalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET surface analysis, particle size analyzer and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS), respectively. Also, electrochemical properties and photoluminescence spectra of FeO particles were measured. The results illustrated that high crystalline, hollow and mesoporous FeO particles were formed. The optical band gap values of the FeO photocatalysts changed between 2.104 and 1.93eV. Photocatalytic efficiency of FeO photocatalysts were assessed via MB solution. The photocatalytic activity results exhibited that I doping enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency. 1% mole iodine doped (I-2) FeO photocatalyst had 97.723% photodegradation rate and 8.638×10min kinetic constant which showed the highest photocatalytic activity within 45min. Moreover, stability and reusability experiments of FeO photocatalysts were carried out. The FeO photocatalysts showed outstanding stability after four sequence tests. As a result, I doped FeO is a good candidate for photocatalysts.