https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04345-y
Regular Article
A novel route to the synthesis of CdS/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic performance
1
Laboratory of Physics of Materials and Nanomaterials Applied at Environment (LaPhyMNE), Faculty of Sciences in Gabes, Gabes University, Gabès, Tunisia
2
Faculté des Sciences de Gabès, UR Electrochimie, Matériaux et Environnement, Université de Gabès, Cité Erriadh, 6072, Gabès, Tunisia
3
College of Science and Arts Sajir, University of Shaqra, P.O. Box 33, 11961, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
5
Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
6
Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
a
madani1malek@yahoo.fr
e
SMGouadria@pnu.edu.sa
Received:
4
January
2023
Accepted:
25
July
2023
Published online:
16
August
2023
The sewage purification sector has not yet begun to grow. Indeed, low cost materials with stable and effective photocatalytic activity remain a goal for researchers. In this work, a novel CdS/α-Fe2O3 (CSH) core–shell structure has been created using a straightforward solid-state reaction. The mixture of α-Fe2O3 weight content was adjusted, and samples were described and tested for photocatalytic activity. The average crystallite sizes for all samples were found in the range of 54–60 nm. The Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy analysis showed the small peaks near 616 cm−1 and 679 cm−1 are assigned to Cd-S bond vibrations. Maximum photocatalytic activity was observed for CSH3 (20% α-Fe2O3 in the mixture) demonstrating the synergy between the two semiconductors for this activity. With this kind of construction, it is possible to use free solar energy, and it can be recycled with minimal mass loss using a straightforward magnetic bar.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
