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Effect of the applied potential condition on the photocatalytic properties of Fe2O3|WO3 heterojunction films

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Abstract

Semiconductors heterojunction and potential application have been investigated as strategy to improve the catalytic processes performance. In this study, we investigated the photocurrent response of photoanodes composed of two different heterojunctions, i.e., Fe2O3|WO3 and WO3|Fe2O3, which were prepared directly on transparent and conductive glass substrate (fluorine-doped tin oxide or FTO-glass) by combining hydrothermal and drop-casting methods. From photoelectrochemical studies, the conduction band edge’s positions for each semiconductor were determined using the Butler–Gärtner model. The heterojunction films were utilized as photoanode in photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in aqueous solution. Under polychromatic irradiation, superior performance was registered for FTO|WO3|Fe2O3 photoanode, reaching a RhB dye photodegradation around of 32% in 3 h. Moreover, we performed structural analyses, optical characterizations, and morphological property investigations using XRD, UV−Vis, and SEM techniques, respectively. Moreover, from the electrochemical studies, the superior photodegradation performance and photocurrent density for photoanode were registered for FTO|WO3|Fe2O3 film.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the laboratory assistance provided by LIMAV for the FEG-SEM analysis, and Brazilian research financing institutions: CNPq (408036/2018-4) and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PPGQ-GERATEC-Universidade Estadual Do Piauí, João Cabral, N. 2231, P.O. Box 381, Teresina, PI, 64002-150, Brazil

    G. S. Costa, M. J. S. Costa, G. E. Luz Jr., L. S. Cavalcante & R. S. Santos

  2. Instituto Federal Catarinense - Campus Luzerna, Vigário Frei João, Centro Luzerna, Santa Catarina, 89609-000, Brazil

    H. G. Oliveira

  3. Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Dos Materiais, Centro de Ciências da Natureza-CCN2, Universidade Federal Do Piauí-UFPI, Teresina, PI, CEP 64049-550, Brazil

    L. C. B. Lima

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  1. G. S. Costa
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Costa, G.S., Costa, M.J.S., Oliveira, H.G. et al. Effect of the applied potential condition on the photocatalytic properties of Fe2O3|WO3 heterojunction films. J Inorg Organomet Polym 30, 2851–2862 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-019-01429-0

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