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Abstract
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Abstract
To improve the photocatalytic properties of hematite (
Fe2O3), we take the merit of nanoscale and exploit a mechanical alloying
(MA) method for Cu doping with various weight percentages (1, 3, 5, and 10). Our techniques to evaluate the phase and
morphological characterization of the prepared nanoparticles were, respectively, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission
scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The elemental analysis and elemental distribution map were examined by energy
dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Furthermore, we utilized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and ultraviolet–
visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS) for appraisal of Fe–O and Cu–O bonds and band gaps. Then we
investigated the photocatalytic activity based on methylene blue (MB) photodegradation under irradiation of 300 W Xenon
lamp and finally explored the antibacterial behavior against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The UV–Vis DRS results indicated
reduction of band gap in the Cu-doped hematite nanoparticles. For the samples considered here, the sample with 5 wt.% of the
dopant showed the lowest band-gap, 1.57 eV. It also decomposed 92.5% of MB from the wastewater under the Xenon-lamp
irradiation during 120 min, and had the highest rate of disinfection with > 99.99% of bacterial removal in 360 min. Low band
gap, substantial sunlight absorption, efficient MB removal, and high antibacterial activity are some suitable photocatalytic
properties specifically achieved in this work.
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