Aerosol synthesis of Graphene-Fe3O4 hollow hybrid microspheres for heterogeneous Fenton and electro-Fenton reaction

Abstract

Fenton reaction has been widely used to treat wastewater containing dyes, herbicides, antibiotics, and landfill leachate because of its convenience and strong oxidation ability. The rational design and preparation of efficient and stable Fenton catalysts have been the focus of research. In this study, graphene-magnetite hollow hybrid microspheres were synthesized by a facile aerosolized spray drying route utilizing ferric ion and graphene oxide (GO) solution as the precursor. The results showed that uniform hybrid microspheres with possess hollow structure, high saturation magnetization and high Fenton catalytic activity with 30wt% graphene (30G-FeO) as catalyst. By the electrochemical analysis, a two-electron dominated process has been demonstrated to explain higher electrocatalytic activity. Accordingly, a novel electro-Fenton (EF) system with the 30G-FeO cathode was established working at acidic condition. The 30G-FeO cathode material possessed highly EF catalytic activity after prolonged cycling. Inspired by the wonderful intrinsic properties and the easy fabrication procedure, the as-prepared 30G-FeO could be promising candidates as potential cathodic materials for high-performance EF oxidation.