Catalytic Activity of Fe (III)-PAN Fiber Complex for Dye Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber was modified with NH₂OH and FeCl₃ aqueous solution to prepare Fe (III)-amidoximated PAN fiber complex (Fe-AO-PAN), which was characterized using FTIR, XPS, and DRS respectively. Then the photocatalytic activity of Fe-AO-PAN was evaluated in degradation of a typical organic dye, Rhodamine B in the presence of H₂O₂ under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that Fe (III) ions can be fixed on the surface of Fe-AO-PAN by the coordination of Fe (III) ions with the amino nitrogen atoms and hydroxyl oxygen atoms of the amidoximation groups. Fe-AO-PAN is found to be activated in the visible light region. Moreover, Fe-AO-PAN shows the catalytic activity for dye degradation at pH = 6.0 in the dark, and can be significantly enhanced under visible light irradiation.