Decoration of α-Fe₂O₃ on Graphene for Photocatalytic and Supercapacitive Properties

The α-Fe₂O₃/graphene composites were obtained by solvothermal method, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were served as supporting materials for anchoring the α-Fe₂O₃, GO was reduced during this process. The morphology and structure of composites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Scanning electron microscope and Transmission electron microscopy. Compared with the bare α-Fe₂O₃ nanoplates, the morphology of α-Fe₂O₃ decorated in graphene partly changed from nanoplates to truncate octahedral. Because of the synergistic effect of graphene and α-Fe₂O₃, the α-Fe₂O₃/graphene composites exhibited improved photocatalytic performance, significantly better than that of the bare α-Fe₂O₃ nanoplates. The specific capacitance of α-Fe₂O₃/graphene was about 2.9 times as high as that of the α-Fe₂O₃ nanoplates at a current density of 0.5 A/g. The α-Fe₂O₃/graphene composites also showed magnetic properties, which indicated the composites can be used in various fields.