Synthesis and Characterization of Hematite Nanowires/Nanorods as Active Photocatalyst for Water Splitting Application

Renewable energy and environmental issues are highly emphasized globally
in order to replace and reduce the use of fossil fuels in various sectors. Thus, the
research on hydrogen gas production has been done since decades ago as an
alternative for renewable energy. Photocatalytic water splitting is one of the methods
to produce hydrogen gas by using photocatalysts such as hematite. There are various
methods to synthesize hematite nanostructures. However, the use of self-combustion
method to synthesize hematite is still limited and under investigation. In addition, the
effects of stirring period on the characteristics of the hematite nanostructures
produced from self-combustion method have yet to be known from the studies. Thus,
the objectives of this research are to synthesize and characterize hematite
nanowires/nanorods by using self-combustion method based on different stirring
period as well as to determine the effects of hematite synthesized on photocatalytic
activity to produce hydrogen gas from water. This project highlights on the hydrogen
production through photocatalytic activity by using hematite nanowires/nanorods
synthesized from self-combustion method based on different stirring period. The
morphologies and microstructures of the nanostructures are determined using Field-
Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)
and Particle Size Analyser (PSA). Besides that, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)
surface area analyser is used to determine the surface area of the hematite samples.
The hematite nanocatalyst as-synthesized are proven to be rhombohedral crystalline
hematite (α-Fe2O3) with diameters ranging from 60-140 nm. The BET surface area of
hematite samples increased with increasing stirring period. This caused the amount
of hydrogen gas produced from photocatalytic water splitting to increase as well.