Controllable synthesis of Fe-5(PO4)(4)(OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O as a highly efficient heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst

Fe-5(PO4)(4)(OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O has been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. The effects of hydrothermal temperature and pH value on the morphologies and sizes of the Fe-5(PO4)(4)(OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O particles were investigated. The Fe-5(PO4)(4)(OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O photocatalyst showed lower photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. But the heterogeneous Fenton-like Fe-5(PO4)(4)(OH)(3)center dot 2H(2)O with H2O2 showed highly efficient photocatalytic activity in the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue. Effective electron transfer from the visible light-excited dyes to Fe(III), which leads to regeneration of Fe(II) and an easy cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II), results in much faster degradation and mineralization of methylene blue in the photo-Fenton reaction under visible light irradiation.