Reactable ionic liquid synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic activity of dendritic ferric oxide hierarchical structures

Dendritic α-Fe₂O₃ micropines and octahedral Fe₃O₄ microcrystals with uniform structures have been successfully synthesised through a reactable ionic liquid process in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ferricyanide [Bmim]₃[Fe(CN)₆] ionic liquid. During the reactive process, ionic liquid [Bmim]₃[Fe(CN)₆] acts as solvents, templates and direct reactants for the fabrication of dendritic α-Fe₂O₃ micropines and Fe₃O₄ octahedral microcrystals. It is also found that pH value is vital for the formation of dendritic α-Fe₂O₃ micropines and Fe₃O₄ octahedral microcrystals structures. Moreover, both α-Fe₂O₃ micropines and Fe₃O₄ octahedral microcrystals showed efficient photocatalytic degradation activity for decolourisation of MB pollutant.