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Structure and Photocatalytic Activity of Iron Oxide Nanotubes Prepared from Ferritin

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Abstract

We report structure and photocatalytic activity of solid nanotubes comprising iron oxide (hematite, α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. The initial precursor cylinders were prepared by alternating layer-by-layer assembly of poly-l-arginine (PLA) and iron-storage protein ferritin in a track-etched polycarbonate membrane (pore diameter: 400 nm) with subsequent dissolution of the template. The obtained (PLA/ferritin)3 nanotubes (outer diameter: 410 ± 14 nm) were calcinated at 500 or 700 °C under air, yielding iron oxide nanotubes. After the calcination, the cylindrical hollow structure completely remained, but its diameter, wall thickness, and maximum length were significantly diminished. SEM measurements revealed that the nanotubes prepared at 500 °C consist of uniform hematite nanoparticles with ca. 5 nm diameter and the nanotubes calcinated at 700 °C are composed of ca. 20 nm hematite nanoparticles. These nanotubes showed efficient photocatalytic activity for degradation of 4-chlorophenol; higher catalytic activity was observed in the reaction with 5 nm hematite nanoparticle nanotubes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Area “Coordination Programming” (Area 2107, No. 21108013) from MEXT Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8551, Japan

    Ryunosuke Kato & Teruyuki Komatsu

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  1. Ryunosuke Kato
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  2. Teruyuki Komatsu
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Correspondence to Teruyuki Komatsu.

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This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Nishihara for his outstanding contribution to the field of metal-containing polymers.

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Kato, R., Komatsu, T. Structure and Photocatalytic Activity of Iron Oxide Nanotubes Prepared from Ferritin. J Inorg Organomet Polym 23, 167–171 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-012-9725-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-012-9725-5

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