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Synthesis of Fe2O3 Using Emblica officinalis Extract and its Photocatalytic Efficiency

C Malarkodi, Vidhu Malik and S Uma

We identified a green method for the synthesis of Fe2O3 using the plant extract of the fruit E. officinalis. The fresh fruit extract reacted with a solution of ferric chloride at room temperature to form FeOOH initially. Homogeneous Fe2O3 crystallites were obtained after 24 h and were confirmed by the presence of prominent reflections in the PXRD pattern. The presence of various aliphatic amines, alkene and primary amines present in the E. officinalis extract is expected to be responsible for the precipitation of FeOOH and subsequent formation of Fe2O3. The FTIR spectra of Fe2O3 indicated the presence of the bands corresponding to different organic amine and alkene functional groups. The band gap energy of the resultant Fe2O3 investigated by the UV-vis absorption spectroscopy was found to be in the range of 1.97-2.05 eV. The photocatalytic efficiency of Fe2O3 nanoparticles was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) under visible light irradiation.