The synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanowires decorated with ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, the [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires were synthesized and decorated by ZnO nanoparticles using the hydrothermal method. The structural and morphological study of samples was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. FTIR was employed for [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 and [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 decorated with ZnO nanoparticles composites to verify the presence of ZnO in the composite after decorating. Furthermore, the optical properties was carried out using UV-vis spectrophotometer and photoluminescence spectra (PL) techniques. XRD analysis showed [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires had a rhombohedral structure with a preferred crystal plane (104). In the [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires decorated by ZnO nanoparticles, ZnO nanoparticles showed a hexagonal structure. Due to SEM images, the nanowires had an average diameter of 41 nm, and ZnO nanoparticles had a spherical shape with a maximum diameter of 70 nm. A uniform distribution was observed for both the [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires and the [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires decorated with ZnO nanoparticles. Furthermore, the result of bandgap energy calculation was 2.12 eV for [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3, while for [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires decorated with ZnO nanoparticles was 3.17 eV which is near to the bandgap energy of ZnO nanoparticles. PL spectra revealed a few transitions in which the origin of these emissions would be associated to oxygen vacancies, iron vacancies, defects and band-to-band transition. The PL emission peaks of [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires decorated with ZnO nanoparticles are similar to [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires, but notably quenched with the ZnO nanoparticles. Based on the result of this study, it is possible to tune bandgap energy for various applications. In addition, this composite is promising candidates for solar cell photo electrodes and gas sensor applications.