Core shell Fe3O4@TiO2/silica aerogel nanocomposite; synthesis and study of structural, magnetic and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

In this work, magnetic Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanospheres supported by a mesoporous silica aerogel substrate were synthesized using simple combining procedure of sol-gel and ultrasound assisted reflux technique for photocatalytic activity. The characteristics study of the as-synthesized ternary nanocomposite showed highly dispersion and covering of the Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanoparticles on the silica aerogel. The hydrophobic porous silica aerogel was prepared using industrial diatomite earth (DE) as a silica source by a sol-gel procedure under ambient pressure drying. The specifications results of the resulting silica aerogel revealed a fine particulate morphology with an average size of 26 nm, a low density of about 0.85 g/cm 3 and a good degree of porosity with a BET surface area of 572 m 2 /g. In addition, the structural and morphological studies of the prepared Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 also represented the formation of a pure Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 phase with a core shell spherical morphology and an average particle size of 22 nm. The introduction of the Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 on the silica aerogel nanoparticles led to increase the particle size to 38 nm and decrease of BET surface area to 347 m 2 /g confirming the formation of Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 /silica aerogel nanocomposite. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared ternary nanocomposite was also studied for the removal of tetracycline (TC) as an organic pollutant from water under visible light in details. • Industrial diatomite earth as a silica source was used to prepare silica aerogel. • SiO 2 aerogel obtained with low density of 0.85 g/cm 3 and high porosity of 572 m 2 /g. • Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 core shell nanosphere was prepared by ultrasound assisted reflux method. • Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 /SiO 2 aerogel revealed particle size of 38 nm and 347 m 2 /g Surface area. • The product showed good photocatalytic activity to remove tetracycline from water.