Development of 2D hexagonal nanoplates of α-Fe2O3/rGO composites via one step hydrothermal process

Abstract

pollutants. Due to their high sensitivity, low cost, good compatibility, and high surface to volume ratio, semiconductor metal oxides at the nanoscale have drawn more interest in utilizing them using gas sensing applications. Additionally, by combining 2D materials like graphene oxide (GO), the electron transport channel in these metal oxide semiconductor materials can be enhanced, raising the sensitivity of the gas sensor. In this study, the effects of time, temperature, and the amount of GO in the precursor solution were investigated in relation to the enhancement of the morphology and purity of hydrothermally synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) / α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites. In order to explore the influence of temperature, a temperature series of 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, and 200 °C was used, and to study the effect of time, a time series of 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours was used. The effect of graphene oxide amount on the morphology and purity of rGO/ α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal process was studied using a series of 0.01 g, 0.02 g, 0.03 g, 0.04 g, 0.05 g, and 0.06 g graphene oxide in the precursor solution.The obtained SEM images demonstrated the presence of 2D hexagonal α-Fe2O3 nano-plates with welldefined sharp edges at 200 °C, 40-hour reaction conditions, and 0.05 g of GO in the precursor solution. XRD patterns of these samples showed the existence of the pure α-Fe2O3 phase with rGO.