{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.030976965845909452, 'fraction_numerical': 0.007942811755361398, 'mean_word_length': 5.774193548387097, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
All-electrochemical fabrication of α-Fe2O3 nanotube array/Cu2O composites toward visible-light-responsive photocatalysis

Composites of anodized hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanotube (FNT) arrays and Cu2O nanoparticles (CNPs) were fabricated using all-electrochemical processes. Two-step anodized iron foils with ethylene-glycol-based electrolyte containing ammonium fluoride show hematite-rich phase after post-annealing in oxygen atmosphere. P-type CNPs with an average diameter of 200 nm were deposited uniformly onto the FNT surface by pulse electrodeposition. The enhancement of hydroxyl radical formation in water for the FNT/CNP composite under visible light (VIS) irradiation was verified by photoluminescence technique using terephthalic acid, suggesting that co-catalyst CNPs on FNT arrays may promote photo-generated hole–electron separation and successive water oxidation on FNT surfaces. Furthermore, hydrogen generation from gas phase photocatalytic decomposition of water/methanol mixture over FNT/CNP was clearly confirmed under VIS irradiation, while H2 was not detected with only FNT and only CNP. This study indicates that electrodeposited CNPs can work as noble-metal-free co-catalysts for VIS responsive photocatalysis based on anodized FNT arrays.