Synthesis of mesoporous α-Fe2O3 via sol gel methods using cellulose nano-crystals (CNC) as template and its photo-catalytic properties

Mesoporous alpha-Fe2O3 was prepared based on the sal-gel method using cellulose nano-crystals (CNC) as the template. The samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and N-2 adsorption. The results indicated that the mesoporous alpha-Fe2O3 samples with a predominant pore diameter of 17.3 nm were successfully prepared. The crystalline size of alpha-Fe2O3 samples was about 57 nm and specific surface area was 47.26 m(2) g(-1). The mesoporous a-Fe2O3 prepared with CNC as the template exhibited better photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) as compared to the sample prepared without CNC (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.