Development of Cuboidal KNbO(3)@α-Fe(2)O(3) Hybrid Nanostructures for Improved Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Applications

[Image: see text] Monophasic and hybrid nanostructures of KNbO(3) and α-Fe(2)O(3) have been prepared using a hydrothermal process for photoelectrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications. Powder X-ray diffraction studies showed the formation of KNbO(3), α-Fe(2)O(3), and KNbO(3)/α-Fe(2)O(3) with average grain sizes of 18.3, 11.5, and 26.1 nm and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface areas of 4, 100, and 20 m(2)/gm, respectively. Under simulated solar irradiation, the as-prepared heterostructure shows enhanced photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity compared to pristine KNbO(3) and α-Fe(2)O(3). Significant photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized KNbO(3)/α-Fe(2)O(3) heterostructure photocatalyst was obtained for removal of methylene blue organic dye under visible light, and the percentage activity was found to be 11, 49, and 89% for KNbO(3), α-Fe(2)O(3), and KNbO(3)/α-Fe(2)O(3) photocatalysts, respectively. The dielectric constant was found to be 250.2, 65.2, and 251.5 for KNbO(3), α-Fe(2)O(3), and KNbO(3)/α-Fe(2)O(3) heterostructure, respectively, at 50 °C and 500 kHz frequency.