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.