Preparation of Iron Oxide/Graphene Composites and Their Photocatalytic Properties for Methylene Blue Under Sunlight

Abstract

Three kinds of iron oxide/graphene composites were prepared using three different ferric salts [FeCl₃, Fe(NO₃)₃, FeSO₄] to react with graphene oxide and followed by a heat treatment. Then, the structures of different iron oxide/graphene composites were compared and analyzed by IR spectra and scanning electron microscopy. After that the degradability using different iron oxide/ graphene composites to degrade methylene blue was explored by ultraviolet spectra. The results showed that iron/graphene (FeCl₃ as iron source) composite has better degradability under sunlight than that of other iron/graphene composites (Fe(NO₃)₃ or FeSO₄ as iron source).