Impact Factor:

15.6

DOI number:

10.1002/advs.202508058

Journal:

Advanced Science

Abstract:

Although heterogeneous photo-Fenton reactions on nanoparticulate iron oxides effectively degrade organic pollutants, the underlying surface mechanisms remain debated. Here, we demonstrate how these pathways are modulated by specific hematite crystal facets. To investigate the influence of particle surface structure, methylene blue (MB) adsorption and photodegradation kinetics are examined using facet-engineered hematite nanoparticles with distinct exposed facets. The results reveal that MB photodegradation strongly depends on both pH and facet orientation. When normalized by surface area, (116) facet shows higher photodegradation activity than those with (104) or (001) facets. This enhanced activity is attributed to favorable electronic structure and surface characteristics, including a smaller optical bandgap, faster charge transfer, and superior H2O2 decomposition. In contrast, the photodegradation capacity follows (104) 〉 (116) 〉 (001), primarily due to the higher density of surface-active sites on the (104) facet. These sites promote coupled MB adsorption and degradation, enabling removal of a greater overall quantity of MB. Additionally, under high pH conditions, hematite can degrade MB in the dark, with capacities following (001) ≫ (116) 〉 (104). These findings underscore the critical catalytic role of specific hematite surfaces and advance the understanding of facet-dependent photoinduced redox chemistry at mineral–water interfaces.

Co-author:

Duo Song, Tianying Liu, Ying Chen, Yadong Zhou, Micah P. Prange, David Z. Wang, Yatong Zhao, Xiang Wang, Xiaoxu Li, Dunwei Wang, Zihua Zhu, Zheming Wang

First Author:

Ping Chen

Correspondence Author:

Tianhu Chen, Kevin M Rosso, Xin Zhang

Discipline:

Engineering

Document Type:

J

Volume:

12

Issue:

43

Page Number:

e08058

Translation or Not:

no

Date of Publication:

2025-09-06

Included Journals:

SCI

Links to published journals:

https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202508058