High visible-light photocatalytic performance of natural hematite ore composited with ZnO nanomaterials

Natural hematite ore is used as a novel material for visible photocatalyst. The hematite was composited with needle-shaped ZnO via a hydrothermal approach. This hematite-based system exhibits excellent photodegradation for rhodamine (RhB) within 30 min when the hematite is hybridized with wurtzite -structured ZnO under visible light irradiation. The formation of a hybrid hetero-junction was shown by transmission electron microscope. The photocatalytic activity of the hetero-junction was evaluated by the photodegradation of RhB dye. The high photocatalytic activity observed under visible light is discussed on basis of the coupling of the hybrid hetero-junction band structure.