A magnetic Fe3O4 decorated TiO2 nanoparticles application for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under direct sunlight irradiation

Abstract

Fe3O4 enriched TiO2 nano photocatalyst with various weight percentage (2, 4, and 8 wt%) of Fe3O4 loaded on TiO2 were effectively synthesized by co-precipitation method for removal of methylene blue dye under direct sunlight. The characterizations of the as-prepared product were done by Field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy (EDAX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation. The influence of the doping amount of Fe3O4 (2, 4, and 8 wt%) on photocatalytic activity of TiO2 was investigated. Results show that the size of Fe3O4@TiO2 particle decreased and their absorption spectra are broadened with increased absorption intensity. The doping can control the conversion of TiO2 from anatase to rutile. The doping amount remarkably affects the activity of the catalyst, and the optimum efficiency occurs at about the doping amount of 8 wt%. The appropriate amount of doping 8 wt% can remarkably increase the catalytic activity of TiO2 for methylene blue (MB) photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation.