The Open Materials Science Journal

2008, 2 : 56-59
Published online 2008 December 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874088X00802010056
Publisher ID: TOMSJ-2-56

Preparation of Carbon Coated FeWO4 and its Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light

Hany H. Abdel Ghafar , Michio Inagaki , Tomoki Tsumura and Masahiro Toyoda
Faculty of Engineering, Oita University, Dannoharu 700, Oita 870-1192, Japan.

ABSTRACT

Preparation of carbon coated FeWO4 was carried out by heat treatment of WO2.9 with iron acetate at 400oC, followed by carbonization with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as carbon precursor at 800oC in N2 atmosphere. The powders mainly consist of FeWO4. The photocatalytic activities of their samples were confirmed by phenol photodecomposition in its aqueous solution. Carbon coated FeWO4 powders revealed photocatalytic activity under visible light. However, the photocatalytic activity of FeWO4 without carbon coating could not be detected. Carbon coating to the FeWO4 derived the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. An addition of 10% PVA to the carbon coating derived the highest photocatalytic activity to decompose the phenol.