Structural, optical, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of Mn ion-doped Fe2O3 nanostructured particles

Abstract

In this research article, characterization and catalytic properties of manganese ion (Mn)-doped iron(III) oxide (Mn-Fe2O3) nanostructured particles have been reported. Mn-Fe2O3 samples were synthesized via the co-precipitation - thermal decomposition (CPTD) method. Samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques. The influence of the Mn-doping process in the phase and crystalline structure of Fe2O3 was determined by powder X-ray diffractometry (p-XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The optical energy band gap and fluorescence feature of Mn-Fe2O3 samples were explored through UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, respectively. The morphology and size of Mn-Fe2O3 were determined through Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The influence of Mn3+ ion concentration on the magnetic property of Fe2O3 was determined. The dye pollutant removal ability of Mn-Fe2O3 samples was examined by employing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated degradation of methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) dyes under visible light conditions. The benefit of the Mn-doping process in the photocatalytic property of Fe2O3 was discussed.