Hierarchical FeWO₄ Microcrystals: Solvothermal Synthesis and Their Photocatalytic and Magnetic Properties

Abstract

Highly hierarchical platelike FeWO(4) microcrystals have been synthesized by a simple solvothermal route using FeCl(3) x 6 H(2)O and Na(2)WO(4) x 2 H(2)O as precursors, where ethylene glycol (EG) plays an important role as a capping agent in directing growth and self-assembly of such unique structures. In addition, a certain amount of CH(3)COONa (NaAc) was necessary for the formation of such unique FeWO(4) microstructures. The photocatalytic property of as-synthesized hierarchical FeWO(4) microcrystals has been first studied, which shows excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV and visible light irradiation (modeling sunlight). Moreover, magnetic measurement indicates that hexangular FeWO(4) platelike microcrystals show a small ferromagnetic ordering at low temperature because of spin-canting of antiferromagnetic materials and surface spins of FeWO(4) nanoparticles.